MEDIEVAL, RENAISSANCE, AND
ELIZABETHAN THEATRE
Take Notes
MEDIEVAL THEATRE
The Middle Ages began with the fall of Rome and continued
until the 15th century.
-Poverty and Illiteracy among the masses were common.
- For about 400 years there was no theatre, only folk festivals and
wandering
jugglers
-The church was against theatrical things.
MEDIEVAL THEATRE
HOWEVER, the church supported drama by
introducing the trope in the 9 th century.
Trope- short dramatized scenes
-travelled Europe spreading the
word/story of Christ to the illiterate.
Theatre became revived for the Middle Ages after the
church sent their tropes.
MEDIEVAL THEATRE
THREE TYPES OF PLAYS IN THE MIDDLE AGES
MYSTERY PLAYS- biblical stories re-enacted
MIRACLE PLAYS- enacting the lives of the saints
MORALITY PLAYS – stories teaching right from wrong in which characters
personified abstract qualities.
MEDIEVAL THEATRE
Plays were elaborately staged.
The passion play evolved during the late Middle Ages. It
depicted scenes from Christ’s life, particularly the last days
of his suffering and his resurrection.
MEDIEVAL THEATRE
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RENAISSANCE
RENAISSANCE MEANS REBIRTH!
THE RENAISSSANCE STARTED IN ITALY
RENAISSANCE
COMMEDIA DELL’ARTE
A professional improvised comedy performed in the streets
-Consisted of a company with usually 7 men and 3 women
-Performed:
Ad lib action
Dialogue
Song
Dance
Commedia dell’arte usually involved love and intrigue.
RENAISSANCE THEATRE
COMMEDIA DELL’ARTE
Stock Characters:
HARLEQUIN: WITTY AND MISCHIEVOUS SERVENT
RENAISSANCE THEATRE
COMMEDIA DELL’ARTE
Stock Characters:
PIERROT: aka the CLOWN… lovelorn and moody
RENAISSANCE THEATRE
COMMEDIA DELL’ARTE
Stock Characters:
Colombine – flirtatious and pretty
Pantalone- gullible father and wore baggy pants
RENAISSANCE THEATRE
COMMEDIA DELL’ARTE
Included the first women on stage SINCE
Indian/Sanskrit drama.
ELIZABETHAN THEATRE
QUEEN ELIZABETH I
ELIZABETHAN THEATRE
QUEEN ELIZABETH I
LOVED
THEATRE
ELIZABETHAN THEATRE
TOP 3 PLAYWRIGHTS OF ELIZABETHAN ERA
-CHRISTOPHER MARLOW- wrote Dr. Faustus
-BEN JONSON- had his thumb branded
And……
ELIZABETHAN THEATRE
William Shakespeare
ELIZABETHAN THEATRE
William Shakespeare was most famous for his:
Use of language
Plays
Iambic pentameter
Soliloquies.