Theatre High_Middle_Ages

economic , political changes in high middle ages led formation of guilds , growth of towns, , lead significant changes theatre starting in time , continuing in late middle ages. trade guilds began perform plays, religiously based, , dealing biblical story referenced profession. instance, baker s guild perform reenactment of last supper. in british isles, plays produced in 127 different towns during middle ages. these vernacular mystery plays written in cycles of large number of plays: york (48 plays), chester (24), wakefield (32) , unknown (42). larger number of plays survive france , germany in period , type of religious dramas performed in every european country in late middle ages. many of these plays contained comedy, devils, villains , clowns.

there number of secular performances staged in middle ages, earliest of play of greenwood adam de la halle in 1276. contains satirical scenes , folk material such faeries , other supernatural occurrences. farces rose dramatically in popularity after 13th century. majority of these plays come france , germany , similar in tone , form, emphasizing sex , bodily excretions.