Concetti Chiave
- The origin of theater is rooted in church performances aimed at teaching religious texts and the lives of saints.
- Medieval drama was more accessible and popular than poetry and prose, appealing even to those who were unlettered.
- Mystery and morality plays were the two main forms of drama, with the former based on Bible episodes and the latter on moral allegories.
- Interludes served as a transition from medieval drama to Renaissance theater, introducing real characters and comedic elements.
- Theater settings evolved from churchyards to inns with audiences often seated around an open, circular, or octagonal stage.
Origins of Theater
The theatre was born in the church because the priest wanted to teach the Gospel, the Holy Bible, the scriptures and the lives of Saints.
Drama, in the middle age, was more popular than the poetry and prose because even unlettered people could understand the plot and enjoy the performance.
Two main forms of drama, in England, were:
-themystery plays based on episodes from the Bible;
-themorality plays based on a moral and allegoric reading of man's life.
Both forms were common to the European drama of the time.
Mistery plays become so popular than the church got too small to house so many people.
At first the performance moved outside the church; first in the church yard and next in the town.
Then, was born the morality plays. They wanted to teach a moral, infact they had a moral purpose.
The characters were stereotyped: they weren't a real characters, but they rappresented vices and virtues.
Interludes and Transition to the Renaissance
Interludes were a link between the middle age and renaissance age. Here, there are real characters and comic elements
1. It was cheap;
2. Everybody could attend the performance. (There weren't distinction between court taste and popular tastes);
3. Going to theatre was already an habit;
4. Unlettered people could understand it;
5. There were talented playwrights.
- Inns become theatre;
- Audience usually sat around the yard, in the gallery;
- It was octagonal or circular in shape;
- There wasn't no roof;
- The stage was a raised platform;
- Women couldn't act;
- Female roles taken up by boys actor;
- Actors didn't wear scene costumes;
- There weren't furniture stage;
- The performances were very lively;
- Theatre was patronized by the nobles.
Domande da interrogazione
- How did the origins of theater relate to religious practices?
- What were the two main forms of drama in medieval England, and how did they differ?
- How did theater evolve during the transition from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance?
Theater originated in the church as a means for priests to teach the Gospel, the Holy Bible, scriptures, and the lives of Saints. This religious foundation helped drama become more popular than poetry and prose during the Middle Ages.
The two main forms of drama were mystery plays, based on Bible episodes, and morality plays, which focused on moral and allegorical readings of man's life. Mystery plays were initially performed in churches but moved outside due to their popularity, while morality plays aimed to teach moral lessons through stereotyped characters representing vices and virtues.
Interludes served as a bridge between the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, introducing real characters and comic elements. Theaters became more accessible, with performances held in inns and attended by diverse audiences. The stage was a raised platform without a roof, and performances were lively, despite the absence of scene costumes and furniture. Women were not allowed to act, so boys played female roles, and theater was supported by nobles.
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