This classical on ageless Christian Drama aims to present periods when
actually dramatic performances or `Religious Drama' were used to teach
Biblical and Hagiographical subjects to the general public. This short
sketch of one of the arts of Christian Church presents Origin, History, and
Development on the subject with Illustrations and Bibliography; in
chronological order.
Since beginning the significance of some special Christian festivals was
shown through these performances. Then came up the Liturgical Drama in the
Middle Ages (12th & 13th centuries). During this phase, plays were acted
within or near the Church, based on stories from the Bible and of the
Saints. The language of the Liturgical Drama was Latin, and the music was
also used in the form of incidental dance and processional tunes.
Eventually, the plays came under secular sponsorship and began to be
presented outside the Church; the local populace became involved across
whole of Europe. Plays were then presented by the Christian Communities in
the vernaculars, based on stories from the Bible. By the 13th century
Miracle Plays, also called as Saints' Plays, came into picture. These plays
used to present, a real and fictitious account of the life, miracles, or
martyrdom of a Saint. Later, they were banned by Henry VIII in the mid-16th
century.
Morality Plays (15th & 16th centuries) were an allegorical drama, wherein
characters personify moral qualities (such as charity or vice) or
abstractions (such as death or youth) thereby teaching moral lessons.
However, Interludes were referred as dramatic scenes presented usually with
music and singing in between of a play when a little fun was required for
enlivening the audience after a serious scene. The phase of Elizabethan
Drama (late 15th & 16th centuries) covered the works of Christopher Marlowe
and William Shakespeare. It was during this time frame that permanent
theaters were built.
During the early 17th century Catholic Church splitted up and many new
Christian organizations called Protestants were formed. As a result a new
Protestant religion called Puritans evolved. The Puritans believed that man
must follow the Bible exactly and try to communicate directly with God. In
order to communicate with God there had to be no distractions from their
religion. Puritans rather continued to immerse themselves in their belief
by avoiding any such distractions. This resulted in the end of `Religious
Drama' but the Author hinted at its revival during the years rolled by.
This living book of Biblical record covers subjects like Art, History,
Poetry, Anthropology, Dramaturgy, Christianity, and Biographical narratives
of various Saints; and is meant for Historians, Artists, Litterateurs,
Christian Laity, Church Clergies, Students and Researchers.
Mr. Gordon Crosse of New College, Oxford and Lincoln's Inn, authored,
co-authored and edited many books including Shakespearean Playgoing,
1890-1952; A Dictionary of English Church History; and Fifty Years of
Shakespearean Playgoing.
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