Easter Medieval Mystery Plays
Medieval mystery plays are one of the earliest formally developed plays in Europe. Their content appears to be mostly vernacular religious performances, including at this time of year a presentation of the Resurrection. They were meant to be understood by the everyday person, allowing the illiterate public to understand the moral and crucial stories and meanings from the Bible. At one point a series of plays incorporating all the key events in the Christian calendar known as the Corpus Christi cycles were performed consecutively, taking around 24 hours in total to complete. People from rural areas flocked into local towns and villages to see these plays, performed by amateurs from the local area on stages. Often funny and full of vitality, these plays were a welcome distraction from the wider hardships of everyday life.
5 April 2006