Medieval Mystery and Miracle Plays

Medieval Mystery and Miracle Plays

• began as serious, didactic church plays in 10th century

• developed into colorful theatrical spectacles involving whole community

• among earliest forms of theater in Europe• often performed on special occasions such

as Easter

Mystery Plays• mystery plays moved out of church control in

early 13th century• Christian clergy banned from acting in public• performances of plays passed to control of

wider community and performed in outdoor public spaces

• concentrated on Bible stories • could contain whole cycle of plays

Miracle Plays

• developed once mystery plays moved out of church• concentrated on lives and miracles of saints

Miracle Plays

• large carts often used to transport actors between locations

• audience gathered at pre-set meeting point, waited for first cart to appear.

• cart stopped, players performed then moved cart to next location

• another cart arrived to continue play

Town Guilds in Medieval Plays

• ensured financial support for productions• particular guild often controlled a section

of a play, often related to guild’s specialty• e.g., bakers’ guild could stage

performance of Last Supper; shipbuilders’ guild might be in charge of story of Noah and the Flood

Town Guilds in Medieval Plays

• involvement of guilds was actually form of early advertising; props/costumes, supplied by guilds, could be viewed by potential customers to see quality of guild’s work

Slapstick and Comedy in the Plays

• devil in plays was often a comic character whom crowd booed

• good always triumphed over evil• devil would be put through trials, such as

being suspended upside down, or hit with weapons by other actors, cheered on by audience.