Origins of English Drama

Summary The Middle Ages Miracle and Mystery plays Trade Guilds Pageants Morality plays Elizabethan Theatre Stage Actors Scenes Audience The Globe Theatre Summary

Mystery plays they developed from the 10th to the 16th century representation of scenes from the Bible they were performed in churches

little by little, out into the churchyard then, on pageants responsibility taken on by the trade guilds

Miracle plays Representation of lives of saints Combination of professional and amateur actors Performed on pageants Acted in English

Trade Guilds they were groups of tradesmen and artisans guild derives from the Old English geld, which means “payment” on particular feast days they prepared biblical plays to perform

Pageants processions associated with secular and religious rituals important aspect of the celebration of Corpus Christi

re-enacted the entire history of salvation plays were performed in wagons (pageants) each sponsored by a guild

Morality plays more refined invented plots personification of vices and virtues didactic purpose written in vernacular

Everyman Dutch Elkerlijk late 15th century Everyman represents all mankind is summoned by God, tries to convince several friends to accompany him

allegorical characters, personifying abstract ideas: Fellowship Kindred, Cousin Goods Good Deeds Knowledge Beauty, Strength, Discretion, Five Wits

Elizabethan Theatre It was influenced by Humanism, which developed in all Europe authors were supported by the Queen the Queen had to approve all the plays (Master of Revels) theatre was considered a form of entertainment and not an art

The Stage composed of: a baldachin that covered it the inner stage behind a curtain a balcony a garret where there were machines a trap door

The Audience plays attracted people from all classes Royals Nobles Commoners a theatre could hold from 1500 to 3000 people

The Scene actors used very simple objects actors represented physical sensation and feelings with words the theatre building was deeply linked with the performance

The actors The Actors the reputation of early Elizabethan actors was not good later they became the equivalent of today’s superstars young boys played female roles

The Globe it was built from the timbers of “ The Theatre ” in 1559 it went up on flames in 1613 it was destroyed another time by Puritans in 1644 most of the Globe and all of its stage was open air The Globe

above the main entrance there was the inscription “Totus mundus agit histrionem" (the whole world is a playhouse) Richard Burbage built the Globe for the Chamberlain’s Men Shakespeare appeared as an actor on the Globe’s stage