Theatrical Journeys

Subject: Drama
Level: Secondary
Age Group: 11 - 14
Order Number: 5231

'Theatrical Journeys' introduces three periods of theatre to students with an adaptation of a Morality play, a medieval play and two renaissance pieces.

The updated version of 'Everyman' is a God-fearing play about morality. With no real character development its purpose was to help the church of the day convey a moral message. 'Noah's Flood', a medieval mystery play, saw theatre developing through simple characterisations and actions. The excerpts from 'The Merchant of Venice' and 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' show the progression from these roots to a fuller more rounded theatrical style. These plays allow actors to explore that development.

These plays provide an awareness of some of the form and function that would have existed in different theatrical periods. Characterisations progressed from simplistic and static to extreme and, in the case of Shakespeare, psychologically rounded. This means an actor can give dimension to his part. It also means the audience has an opportunity to identify with the extremes of personality.

The language became more formal as time progressed culminating in Shakespeare's iambic pentameter. Performers also have the opportunity to alter these versions to keep the references and the use of language contemporary helping them realise the interactive nature of theatre.

The settings were sparse and props kept to a minimum. There would have been no elaborate sets in these periods. Thus, these plays are ideal for the classroom but are also an integral part of establishing an awareness of theatrical development.