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935
Hrosvitha
Hrosvitha was a playwright that was born in 935. She lived in Gandersheim, Germany and is known for the six plays that she created. However, it is unknown if they were performed during her lifetime. She is significant to medieval theatre because she was the first female dramatist known. Hrosvitha was drawn to comedies, but chose to write about more serious matters because those themes were not as favored. Her plays often involved sinful temptations and unfair death sentences instead (Brockett). -
963
Dulcitius
Dulcitius is a play that was written by Hrosvitha between 963 and 973. This play in particular is considered to be the most comedy-inspired compared to the others that she created. However, the storyline contains some dark events, which seemed to reoccur in her plays. Three sisters, Agape, Chionia, and Irena, are imprisoned and killed during this performance. A more uplifting tone is presented afterward as the three sisters are depicted as Christians and thus made it to Heaven ("Dulcitius"). -
970
Quem Quaeritis
Quem Quaeritis is a play that was written by an unannounced author in 970. It was one of the first liturgical dramas to date, meaning they were performed at the church. This play was often shown around Easter as it reenacted the events that occurred. It showed the three women arriving at the tomb, along with the angel announcing that Christ had risen. This liturgical drama in particular was short as the performers, who were also church members, only sung four lines of Latin dialogue (Brockett). -
1200
Medieval Theatre Staging
Medieval theatre had a specific stage layout that began in the 1200's and consisted of two parts. The two main areas were referred to as the mansion and platea. The mansions represented scenic structures and were meant to describe the location. There could be one mansion or multiple depending on how many settings were present. The platea was the actual stage space where the acting occurred. This staging resembled a church structure as that is where they were originally performed (Trumbull). -
1300
Interlude Creation
Interludes were created around the 1300's as the first one ever recorded occurred between 1300 and 1325. It was shown in a play called Interludium de Clerico et Puella. An interlude is described as a nonreligious act that occurred between the main parts of a performance or celebration. They vary in theme as they range from being serious to comical and normally involve experienced actors. Interludes were also associated with the rise of professional theatre (Interludes). -
1311
Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi is a festival that was created in 1311. However, it was not commonly seen in Europe until around 1350. This is a biblical festival that is centered around the body and blood of Christ. It normally involves a parade through town and the sharing of bread and wine. It revealed the meaning behind human existence and redemption. Corpus Christi inspired more outdoor religious plays to be brought about as all of them were performed inside during church services prior to this (Brockett). -
1400
Musical Element
A musical element of song and dance was added to medieval theatre between 500 and 1400. It played a large role in these performances but the schedule of the incorporated music varied. Roman musicals followed a more strict schedule, while Greek musicals were more relaxed and depended more on the chorus and dancers than they did the actors. This was an important aspect as the song and dance that was included in the musical element often helped to relay the takeaway message (Estrella). -
1425
Noah and His Sons
Noah and His Sons is a play that was written by an unknown author between 1425 and 1450. This play came from a series of plays that were all performed in Wakefield, a town in England. Noah and His Sons told the biblical story of Noah's Ark. The plot involved Noah and his sons loading the ark with animals while his Noah's wife talks to her friends. When it is time to leave, Noah's sons must carry his wife onto the ark as she is not fully convinced that they must leave ("The Chester"). -
1470
Pierre Patelin
Pierre Patelin is a play that was written by an unnamed author in 1470. The plot describes human behavior in two different short stories. The first one consists of Patelin beating a merchant instead of paying for the cloth he bought off of him. The second one consists of Patelin counseling a thief into only responding with "baa" during his trial. Ironically, the accuser is the merchant Patelin stole from. The case is dismissed since the thief is incompetent but Patelin leaves unpaid (Brockett). -
1500
Everyman
Everyman is a play that was written by an anonymous author in 1500. It is one of the most famous morality plays, which focus on the morals that exist within mankind. In this play, God summons the main character to death. He looks for help from his companions as he has not lived a righteous life. However, they refuse as they know his path leads to doom. He begins to focus on his good deeds as they are important to his salvation. At the end, these acts ultimately help him reach Heaven (Brockett).