1. Medieval Theatre
500 – 1500 AD

2. Fallout from Rome
Following the decline of theatre in Rome, the medieval period began as a difficult one for theatre.
Traces of mimes, acrobatics and singing can be found, but anything like a structured play was elusive until later.
Eventually, Christians would introduce theatrical performance to the church as a means of worship and teaching the gospel.

4. What began as chants turned into elaborate productions which had to be moved outdoors.
Due to the content and use of Latin, the players were priests, nuns, and choirboys.
Upon translation, the plays opened doors for the common man to participate

5. (this was an actual TV show)

6. Outside the church, groups began performing Miracle and Mystery plays.
Despite criticism and initial repression, these pioneers represent the first acting companies and were later recognized and patronized by the nobles.

7. Medieval Theatre Terminology
Miracle and Mystery plays
Passion play
Mansion
Guilds
Cycle
Morality play
Masque
Pageant cart

9. Lest we forget the horseplay…
Despite the seriousness of the message and the religious content, performances continued to appeal to the audience’s sense of horseplay.
The audience’s favourite character to take humourous jabs at was

10. This guy.
The gleeful attitude with which the devil and his assistants ran hell’s business kept the audience in stitches.
Even when the devil wasn’t in scenes, his henchman popped in regularly enough to amuse the audience with acrobatics and farcical miming.

11. The devil’s wide popularity as a comic figure in medieval plays may explain why today the jester is such a prolific symbol of the time period.

12. The Medieval Stage
Complicated devices and special effects were introduced at this time.
For example, trap doors were hidden in the raised stages so that characters could appear from nowhere. Some troupes had cranes to fly angels in.

13. Hell’s Mouth
With a moving jaw, real flames, and smoke bellowing from its bowels, the device would consume those characters who were too evil for heaven.
It took 17 men to
operate Hell’s Mouth.

14. Notable Plays
The Second Shepherd’s Play – a secular play about a clever scoundrel named Mak who steals a sheep, hides it in a crib, and passes it off as his son.
Everyman – an allegorical Morality play in which Everyman is summoned to meet Death, appear before God, and seek salvation. Other characters include Five Wits, Fellowship, Kindred, Discretion, Beauty, Strength, Knowledge and Good Deeds.