Mystery
Plays: Mystery plays were Bible stories. There were four or
five short mystery plays in each presentation. Clergymen were the
actors.
Each presentation was broken up, and
staged all over town. One stage was located right outside the local
church. Another scene might be staged in a wagon that was pulled through
town. Some scenes were placed in different parts of town. The audience
moved from stage to stage.
The mystery plays were quite fun and
very well attended by commoners and nobles alike. The stories included
the Birth of Jesus, The Wise Men, and the Flight Into Egypt.
Miracle
Plays: Miracle plays were plays about the lives of the saints
and the miracles they performed. Again, the clergy were the actors.
These plays were staged like the mystery plays.
Morality
Plays: Morality plays began with the rise of towns. The
church hired actors to perform these plays. The stories were about
virtues and vices such as fellowship, good deeds, and death.
The towns also produced miracle and
mystery plays that were performed by actors.
The sets for some plays were really
elaborate. Sometimes, there were no sets at all. This was especially
true of plays performed in the cathedrals. The backdrop of the cathedral
was the setting.
Explore
Free
Presentations in PowerPoint format
Free
Online Games for the Middle Ages
Free
Middle Ages Clipart for Kids & Teachers
Free
Clip Art
Middle
Ages for Teachers
Return
to The Middle Ages for Kids