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Medieval Mystery Plays
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The Coventry Mystery Plays
The Coventry Mystery Plays are a cycle of plays that originated in the 15th century and were performed by the city's guilds. The Coventry guilds were known for producing particularly elaborate and lavish performances, including the famous 'Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors' which recounted the story of the Nativity and the massacre of the Innocents.
Ludus Coventriae (The Play of Coventry)
Sometimes mistakenly associated with the Coventry Mystery Plays, Ludus Coventriae is a cycle of 42 plays dating from the 15th century. Historically, these plays are more accurately connected with the East Anglian tradition and cover much of the Christian biblical narrative.
The Cornish Mystery Plays
The Cornish Mystery Plays are a group of plays written in the Cornish language. They were performed in the medieval and early Tudor periods, primarily in Cornwall, and are notable for their language as well as the inclusion of unique local content alongside traditional biblical stories.
The Chester Mystery Plays
Originating in the 15th century, the Chester Mystery Plays are a collection of 24 pageants based on biblical material, ranging from the fall of Lucifer to the judgement day. These plays were presented on fixed stages and were heavily influenced by the church, with clerics often contributing to the scripts.
The Wakefield Mystery Plays
Also known as the Towneley Cycle, this collection of 32 plays dates back to the 15th century. These plays were performed on Corpus Christi Day in Wakefield, England by a variety of craft guilds. The play 'The Second Shepherds' Play' is especially well-known for its unique blend of religious content and farcical elements.
The York Mystery Plays
The York Mystery Plays are a cycle of 48 pageants (plays) that depict various biblical stories from creation to the Last Judgment. These plays were performed in York, England, during the late Middle Ages, with their performances peaking in the 14th and 15th centuries. Local guilds sponsored and performed individual plays on wagons that moved around the city.
The Digby Mystery Plays
A smaller collection, The Digby Mystery Plays consist of four plays from the late 15th to the 16th century. Notable within this collection is the play 'Mary Magdalene', which has a more complex structure than most mystery plays and combines elements of biblical story, sainthood, and religious allegory.
The N-Town Plays
The N-Town Plays are a sequence of 42 plays thought to be compiled in the late 15th century. They do not belong to a single town but are named 'N-Town' because the manuscript was labeled as such, possibly indicating that these plays were performed in a variety of locations. They blend liturgical drama with more popular town pageantry.
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