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Medieval Mystery and Miracle Plays

Medieval Mystery and Miracle Plays. Medieval Mystery and Miracle Plays. began as serious, didactic church plays in 10 th century developed into colorful theatrical spectacles involving whole community among earliest forms of theater in Europe

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Medieval Mystery and Miracle Plays

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  1. Medieval Mystery and Miracle Plays

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. Miracle Plays • developed once mystery plays moved out of church • concentrated on lives and miracles of saints

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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.

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