Some plays were performed in churches. These would have been mystery plays, miracle plays, and morality plays intended to instruct in The Bible or issues of morality.
Some plays were staged on special wagons set up for the purpose. These were performed in church yards sometimes. They were also staged in towns, at fairs, at crossroads where a lot of people might go by, and wherever the actors thought they could make money.
If we are to divide medieval drama into two types, I think they would have to be religious and secular. Medieval drama is usually divided into five types. Three of these, Miracle plays, Morality Plays, and Mystery plays, dealt with religious issues, and two, Mummings and Manners plays, were secular. Please use the link below for more information.
Medieval theater included types of play that were intended to instruct people religiously. These included Morality plays, Miracle plays, and Mystery plays. As the Middle Ages came to an end, these types of plays were targeted by people opposed to the influence of the Roman Catholic Church as too Catholic, and they were mostly banned by the Catholic Church because they did not really represent it, but gave Protestants things to complain about. One type of medieval theater that survived was Mummings, which most religious people opposed for the entire Middle Ages, but were too much fun to be suppressed everywhere. They are still done today. Another type of medieval theater that survived and evolved was Manners plays, who were not religious in nature and were only suppressed from time to time as being too worldly or, during times of contagion, too attractive to crowds of people who might spread disease.
Early in the Middle Ages, there were some secular plays. Then there were plays called Mummings, that combined Christian and pagan elements, and did not adhere to the standards of the Church or authorities. About the tenth century, Miracle Plays and Mystery Plays appeared, and these had Christian themes. Not long after, Morality Plays appeared, and dealt with moral issues from a Christian point of view. In the High Middle Ages and Late Middle Ages, Manners Plays appeared, which were more of a secular nature. There is a link below to an article on Medieval Theater.
the church
Most medieval playwrights were anonymous, and we know nothing of who they were or what their condition in life was. It is quite possible that none made any money from writing plays, however. Of the few whose names are known, Adam de la Halle was a Trouvère, who was a member of the nobility and probably had no need for an income; Hrothsvita and Hildegard of Bingen were both nuns, and derived no income from their plays.
Anna Jean Mill has written: 'Medieval plays in Scotland' -- subject(s): History and criticism, Medieval Drama, Scottish Dialect drama 'Mediaeval plays in Scotland' -- subject(s): Accessible book, English drama, History, History and criticism, Medieval Drama, Scottish Authors, Scottish drama, Theater
Karl Young has written: 'The presidential address' 'Offprints: Officium pastorum' 'Observations on the origin of the mediaeval passion-play' -- subject(s): History and criticism, Medieval Drama, Passion-plays 'Samuel Johnson on Shakespeare' -- subject(s): Criticism and interpretation, History, Knowledge, Literature, Sources 'Ordo prophetarum' -- subject(s): Christmas plays, Medieval Drama 'The harrowing of hell in liturgical drama' -- subject(s): Catholic Church, Liturgical drama, Liturgy, Medieval Drama 'Observations on the origin of the medieval passion-play' -- subject(s): History and criticism, Medieval Drama, Passion-plays, Religious drama
Ancient Greek Tragedies along with Medieval Christian Passion Plays.
If we are to divide medieval drama into two types, I think they would have to be religious and secular. Medieval drama is usually divided into five types. Three of these, Miracle plays, Morality Plays, and Mystery plays, dealt with religious issues, and two, Mummings and Manners plays, were secular. Please use the link below for more information.
Rosemary Woolf has written: 'The English mystery plays' -- subject(s): History and criticism, Christian drama, English (Middle), Civilization, Medieval, in literature, English drama, Bible plays, English, Mysteries and miracle-plays, English, English Bible plays 'Art and Doctrine' -- subject(s): English literature, History and criticism, Civilization, Medieval, in literature
One example of miracle plays in the origin of English drama is the "Chester Mystery Plays," which were performed in medieval times to depict biblical stories and miracles. These plays were often staged outdoors in cycles to educate and entertain audiences about religious themes. Miracle plays became popular during the Middle Ages and were an important precursor to modern English drama.
roman drama
Patrick J. Collins has written: 'Say it with power and confidence' -- subject(s): Public speaking 'The N-town plays and medieval picture cycles' -- subject(s): Art, Medieval, Bible, Bible plays, English, Christian art and symbolism, Christian drama, English (Middle), Cycles (Literature), English Bible plays, English drama, History and criticism, Illustrations, Ludus Coventriae, Medieval Art, Mysteries and miracle-plays, English, Themes, motives
Virginia Schaefer Carroll has written: 'The \\' -- subject(s): Christian drama, English (Middle), Civilization, Medieval, in literature, Cycles (Literature), English Bible plays, English drama, English drama (Comedy), History and criticism, Mysteries and miracle-plays, English
Medieval plays were called "morality plays". The characters in the morality plays were personifications of good and evil, usually involved in a struggle for a man's soul. These plays were used by the Church to inform illiterate people of how they should live their lives. The form was static, but it's popularity contributed significantly to the later secularization of European drama.
Richard Axton has written: 'Medieval French plays' -- subject(s): French drama, Translations into English
Joannes Vriend has written: 'The Blesed Virgin Mary in the Medieval drama of England' -- subject(s): Cult, English drama, English literature, History and criticism, Mysteries and miracle-plays, English