1. The Theatre of Spain and New Spain to 1700 (Historical Background)
The period of 1580 – 1680 in Spain was so productive, it is called The Golden Age of Spanish drama.
Many of the cultural influences were related to the Moorish culture.
Muslims ruled Spain for nearly 500 years (except a small northern portion) during the Dark Ages, making Spain the most prosperous and culturally advanced nation in feudal Europe.
However, Islam disapproves of theatre – they do not believe in imitating life, as they see it as profaning God’s work.
By 1276 Christian kingdoms to the north drove out the Moors from all of Spain except a small southeastern portion.
Spain became a global power under the rule of Ferdinand and Isabella – who sent Columbus across the sea to find the West Indies (us!).
They are responsible for the Spanish Inquisition, which sought to eliminate all beliefs other than Roman Catholicism.
The wedding portrait of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, 1469.
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2. The Theatre of Spain and New Spain to 1700 (The Religious Drama)
Because of the Islamic disapproval of theatre, only Christian portions of Spain developed medieval drama.
As Christian forces conquered Moorish territory, religious plays similar to elsewhere in Europe were introduced.
After 1500, the Spanish developed a distinct for of morality play called the autos sacramentales (“acts of the sacrament”).
These were performed until religious drama was banned in 1765.
They were associated exclusively with the feast of Corpus Christi.
The title page from an autos sacramentales written by Pedro Calderón, the most celebrated author of autos and secular drama.
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3. The Theatre of Spain and New Spain to 1700 (The Religious Drama)
Highly ornate, two-story wagons (carros) pulled by bulls with gilded horns served as the stage for the autos.
Actors wore elaborate costumes – everything was elegantly decorated!
In some towns the first official performance took place inside the cathedral.
This practice ended by the 1600s, so first performances occurred just outside the church or in the courtyard of an important building.
Most performances took place in town squares.
The plays told allegorical stories with characters representing things like the virtues, vices, elements, hope, sin, beauty, death, and humanity. Some had no human characters at all!
Drawn plans for one of the carros used in the autos sacramentales.
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4. The Theatre of Spain and New Spain to 1700 (The Religious Drama)
Until 1550, trade guilds were responsible for staging the plays.
The City Council took over some time between 1551 and 1558.
After that professional troupes were employed to produce plays.
Spain’s finest dramatists were commissioned to write the plays, connecting the public and religious stages.
The city provided the carros and everything for the production except costumes and props.
Troupes were chosen during Lent.
They received a large payment and were given exclusive rights to perform publicly between Easter and Corpus Christi. After Corpus Christi, they toured the plays to neighboring towns.
A drawing of a carros. Look how elaborate!
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5. The Theatre of Spain and New Spain to 1700 (The Religious Drama)
In addition to the autos, actors performed short farcical interludes and dances.
Other performers were hired to carry large carnival figures of giants and dragons through the streets and perform traditional dances.
When the autos were banned in 1765, reasons given were:
The predominance of the carnival spirit
The objectionable content of the farces and dances
The undesirability of having religious plays performed by actors of questionable morality.
One of the biggest factors, though, was the death of Pedro Calderón, a most celebrated playwright.
After his death, autos were not as high quality.
Reproductions of autos and carros in Valencia.
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