How has medieval theatre developed drama today?
Mediaeval threatre started out as masques and plays put on by troops of travelling players. The plays were either bawdy romps, based on the times or religious or moral in theme, for example the York and Chester Mystery plays or Everyman. None of the bawdy romps have survived! All the performers were men from early times up to the Restoration, with boys playing the women’s roles. It is unlikely that medieval theatre developed from earlier Greek or Roman theatre. Commedia dell’arte started a bit later in the 16th Century, so not mediaeval. The language is challenging, but managable (I’ve been in Everyman and the Play of Mary Magdalene) and the plays are not long so it’s worth trying to read one or two. Good luck.
