1. Theater in the Middle Ages
Theater History
Theater in the Middle Ages

2. Early Christianity’s Role in Theater
After Roman Empire became corrupt, then decayed and fell, the Christian Empire rose to take its place.
The Catholic Church banned all theater productions, because it had decayed morally to the point where it was nothing but obscenity.

3. Catholic Church
During the 10th Century, religious drama was again allowed by Church. Since everyone was illiterate, drama was found to be a good way to teach the Christian doctrine, stories, and history which the populace could not read.

4. Pageants
Were an elaborate outdoor play, often performed on “pageant wagons, which are the for runners to our floats.”

6. Oberammergau Passion Play 1633
A plague struck there town and the citizens made a covenant with the Lord that is He would save them from it, they would do a pageant about Christ every ten years They were saved and except on very rare occasions the play has been faithfully performed every ten years for the last three and a half centuries.

7. Secular Theater in the Middle Ages
Secular (meaning Non-religious)
There are no official records of secular theater in late middle ages, however there were underground theater.
Royal Courts began to produce various forms of non-religious plays at entertainment for their guests. Soon they gravitated to merchants as well. By mid 14th century, most larger towns had their own acting troupes.