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Van der Wee, Herman. “Structural Changes and Specialization in the Industry of the Southern
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THEATER
. Medieval theater originated in the 10th century in the Latin liturgical drama that was
associated with the Easter rites of the church. New forms of dramatic expression were
developed over the next 200 years, one example of which is Sponsus, a play based on the
parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins. By the late 12th century, plays were being
written in French, though a few nonliturgical Latin plays were also performed. The
earliest play whose dialogue is entirely in French is the Jeu d’Adam. Another biblical
play from this period is the Seinte Resureccion. Around this time also, there appeared the
narrative Passion des jongleurs, which later served as a principal source for the Passion
du Palatinus,
The 13th century saw a significant development of theatrical activities in the wealthy
commercial centers of northern France, particularly in Arras, where Jehan Bodel wrote
his Jeu de saint Nicolas, Adam de la Halle his Jeu de la feuillée, and an anonymous
author his Courtois d’Arras, a play based on the parable of the Prodigal Son. The record
of dramatic activity in the 14th century is sparse, though an important collection of
miracle plays, written for the Guild of Parisian Goldsmiths, has survived.
The vernacular plays surviving from this early period are not numerous, but their
quality is high. The pattern of survival suggests that dramatic activity was limited to
certain urban centers, not only in France but in other countries as well. In the 15th
century, however, the theater burst into prominence everywhere as a significant feature of
European life. The cycle plays of England, the Passion plays of France, the
Fasnachtspiele of Germany, and the sacre rapresentatione of Italy were all part of a
general theatricalization of European culture. Plays were usually performed on feast days
and general holidays; were written by clerics, law clerks of the Basoche, rhetoricians, and
students; and were acted by amateurs belonging to trade guilds, rhetorical societies,
schools, and municipal organizations. Techniques for the staging of plays ranged from
simple to spectacular, with performances taking place in halls, courtyards, or town
squares. Plays were acted on small trestle stages or in large open-air theaters built
specially for the occasion. The presentation of plays on pageant wagons was the custom
in northern France, where processional theater was a frequent component of public
ceremony.
The theater of the late Middle Ages played a central role in the life of the community.
Biblical plays, history plays, and saint plays reinforced people’s identity as children of
God by teaching the history of the world and the community’s place in that history. At
the same time, morality plays taught Christian ethics by showing the consequences of
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