Medieval English Theatre 42: Religious Drama and Community

Medieval English Theatre is a leading journal in early theatre studies, covering theatre and pageantry from the British Isles to the suppression of civic mystery cycles. It also includes contributions on European and Latin drama, analyses of modern survivals, and research productions of medieval plays. The articles explore the drama of various communities, including religious orders, lay communities, and contemporary worshippers, examining the complex relationships between theatrical performance and faith. The volume is completed with an exploration of traditional Iranian religious theatre from an ethnographic perspective.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 01 June 2021
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd

Medieval English Theatre is a renowned journal in the field of early theatre studies, encompassing a vast range of topics. Its name may suggest a focus solely on English theatre, but in reality, it publishes articles on theatre and pageantry from across the British Isles, extending up to the opening of the London playhouses and the suppression of the civic mystery cycles. Moreover, it includes contributions on European and Latin drama, as well as analyses of modern survivals or equivalents, and research productions of medieval plays. The journal's scope is truly interdisciplinary, reflecting the rich tapestry of theatrical traditions during the Middle Ages.

Theatre performance holds a central place in the communities examined in this volume, and its expressions are deeply intertwined with local and particular faiths. The articles presented explore the drama of diverse groups, including religious orders, houses, local lay communities, and contemporary worshippers. Contributors delve into the complex relationships between theatrical performance and faith, recognizing religious theatre as a mode of worship, a tool for exploring beliefs, and a site for studying synchronous and asynchronous connections within communities.

Specific topics addressed in the articles include the fragments of play-scripts surviving from the monastery at Mont-St-Michel, the Barking Abbey Easter celebrations, and the interpretation of the Towneley plays by the sixteenth-century community that owned the surviving copy. These topics shed light on the ways in which theatrical performances were intertwined with religious practices and beliefs during the Middle Ages.

To complement the exploration of medieval English theatre, the volume also includes an ethnographic perspective on traditional Iranian religious theatre. By examining this form of theatre from an ethnographic lens, the authors aim to uncover and understand its unique effects on contemporary communities who perform and attend it in the twenty-first century.

In conclusion, Medieval English Theatre is a vital resource for scholars and enthusiasts interested in the study of early theatre, religious practices, and cultural expressions. Its wide-ranging coverage and interdisciplinary approach make it an essential contribution to the field of theatre studies. Through its exploration of medieval English theatre and traditional Iranian religious theatre, the journal provides valuable insights into the complex relationships between performance, faith, and communities throughout history.

Weight: 444g
Dimension: 229 x 165 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781843845942