1. Medieval Theater 1000-1500’s ad
After closing down all theater activities at the time of Ancient Rome, the Christian church gives theater a second life as a religious tool.

2. Churches use theater to spread the word of God
Churches produce plays inside of cathedrals.
Priests take the role of the actors.
Audience moves from mansion ( stage) to mansion as the play progresses.
In bringing the stories of the Bible to life, theater becomes not just popular entertainment but a foundation of medieval society.

3. The Plays Many plays are written by authors who are anonymous today.
A famous playwright was Hrosvitha: a nun who wrote religious comedies
Types of Plays
Miracle Plays: lives of the saints
ex. St. Nicholas and the Virgin Mary.
Mystery Plays: stories of the Bible
ex. Noah and the Ark, Birth of Jesus
Morality Plays: taught right from wrong.
ex. It is wrong to kill people, etc.
Woodcut of the play Everyman

4. Morality Plays
As Morality plays taught the difference between right and wrong, they would often use the threat of Hell to encourage people to act correctly.
Hell’s mouth involved smoke effects and costumed demons.

5. Theater Takes To The Streets!
As plays become more popular and involve more comedy, church officials begin to worry about the propriety of having plays inside a church.
The church stops producing plays.
Towns decide to produce the plays themselves.
Guilds of workman take on sponsorship and performance of different parts of the plays.
Plays move through town on wagons called mansions or are set up as portable stages in city squares
Plays become less religious and more comic once they move into the streets.

6. Passion Plays
Passion plays tell the story of the crucifixion of Jesus on the cross.
Most famous production produced in Oberammergau, Germany. Began as an offering to God in hopes the town could avoid the effects of the plague.
Still produced every 10 years since 1633.
Last performed from May-September 2010.
Involves cast of thousands of actors and animals.