Page 8 - cr58

THEATRE OF THE MIDDLE AGES In France, Charlemagne (742-814), the
self-styled Emperor of the Holy Roman
By Cameron Hall Empire, decreed that death or exile
were valid punishments for actors who
To define the Middle Ages as the Excommunication was the common
wore garments of a priestly rank.
Dark Age is something of a fate of any performer. The Emperor
In this climate of repression it is not
misrepresentation. Petrarch probably Justinian of Byzantium is believed to
surprising that medieval drama
invented the term in the 1330s when he have ordered the theatres closed upon
emanated from Church sanctioned
wrote of his predecessors, ‘amidst the his brief recapture of Rome. If true,
Christian liturgy, most particularly from
errors there shone forth men of genius, first-hand experience might have played
the worship of Easter, since the
no less keen were their eyes, although a part in the decision. His wife, the
Resurrection was the highlight of the
they were surrounded by darkness and Empress Theodora had once been a
Christian year.
dense gloom.’ mime-player, notorious for shedding
Petrarch considered that history her clothes. Just as worship of the Greek god
Dionysus was integral to the
could be dissected into two periods, the Conversely, Justinian also sent ships
development of ancient Greek drama,
classical period of the Greeks and from Byzantium to former Roman
Christian worship provided the
Romans, and the age of darkness that, colonies, not only for trade, but also in
foundation for theatre of the Medieval
in his opinion, had prevailed ever since. a bid to keep the vestiges of Roman
Age.
Today the Dark Age usually refers to culture alive. Theatre was of course part
Christian theatre progressed to
the years that followed the fall of Rome of that culture. It has been suggested
large-scale pageants on the life of
in 568AD. that the liturgical drama that dominated
Christ, utilising entire church buildings.
Was it really quite so ‘dark’ after the immediate post-Roman age owes its
all? Nevertheless, a general belief is beginnings to Byzantium. If so, perhaps In time, performance moved outdoors.
that theatre fell to its lowest ebb during the influence of Theodora was positive The ecclesiastical play became the
the Early Middle Age. Let us consider for theatre. principal source of religious instruction
for an age when illiteracy was
the period, and then make a judgement. Early Christian impact significant.
The theatre after Rome The reticence of the Church towards Exodus, the story of the Israelite’s
The later Roman period witnessed a secular drama persisted for centuries. escape from Egypt, is a fine example of
decline of dramatic theatre and an The Council of Rome in 679 required a biblical tale performed as theatre.
absence of significant dramatists. Even that English clerics ban jesters and According to the eighth-century
so, subsequent to the fall of Rome, players from their premises. In 789 English historian, the Venerable Bede,
manuscripts and illustrations provide beating or banishment was prescribed the author of the performance version
evidence that works of Terence, and for performers who wore clerical of Exodus was Cademon of Whitby.
probably others, were read aloud while clothing. Bede recorded that Cademon
actors mimed the stories. The Roman improvised and performed divine songs
influence didn’t just disappear upon the in the abbey.
departure of the legions. Britons for
A form of choral chant, known as
example, although now left to their own
the dithyramb, was integral to the early
devices, were considered highly
drama of Greece (see CinemaRecord
romanised.
50). Now sung portions known as
King Edwin of Northumberland tropes became essential to the
(reign 616 to 632) built for himself a development of Christian theatre.
theatre of the Roman style at Yeavering. ‘Quem quaeritis’ (whom seek ye) was
Performers such as acrobats, dancers, sung by a priest in a white robe, who
mimics, animal-trainers, jugglers, represented an angel at the empty tomb,
wrestlers, ballad singers and story- to three choirboys who represents the
tellers made their way throughout three Marys who came to the tomb on
Europe carrying with them the the first Easter morning. The dialogue
remnants of classical entertainment. between them was:
At first, Christian doctrine strictly Priest: Whom seek ye in the
forbade attendance at or appearance in sepulchre, O children of Christ?
theatrical performances.
Choirboys: Jesus of Nazareth the
The Three Marys at the Tomb (c. 960). crucified, O child of Heaven.

8 2008 CINEMARECORD