Medieval theatre was similar to American community theatre, with home-made sets, costumes created by town craftspeople, and locals gathered to watch family and friends’ performances. They worked with townsfolk’s talents to tell Biblical tales, complete with anachronistic jokes and references that resonated with audiences. Some became local stars, with people clamoring every year to see them play a favorite role, and the guilds that produced the plays used sets and props to showcase their skills.
The plays that medieval Britons produced brought about the warm, fuzzy feelings we associate with modern community theatre. We imagine our friends and family performing, with everyone watching and clapping. We think of the solidarity and camaraderie it brings, reminding us of why we love our communities. Underneath the medieval fun of putting on a show, though, were scripts that asked difficult questions about values and morality. Of course, in such a top-down society, only so much could be challenged, but subtle moments addressed poverty, greed, and other problems affecting townsfolk’s lives. Community theatre can easily just be the former, presenting fluff that makes us feel good without actually benefitting people in the long run. Of course, it should be a fun experience, but to truly benefit the community, it needs to also incorporate the latter. It needs to address concerns of local people and voice ugly truths that we might suppress as we go about our daily lives. Last summer, Artists From Suburbia found a balance between entertainment and challenge with our Evening of Original One Act Plays. We asked Massachusetts-based playwrights to submit their writing, leading to staged readings of plays confronting classism, fascism, and loss. Rehearsals weren't all doom and gloom, nor was the final performance. We had our laughs and so did the audience, but with those moments of joy and humor came explorations of societal issues. This summer, we’re once again giving local artists the opportunity to explore problems affecting the personal and public spheres. We want artists to enjoy coming to rehearsal, whether they're old pros or first-timers, while also bringing new and marginalized voices to the stage (or, in our case, an available public space). Our goal is similar to medieval thespians - entertain audiences while challenging them. With every production, we strive to fulfill the need for fun and introspection on Boston's south shore. Gavin Damore oversees all publicity and press for AfS. His expertise in social media and public outreach have ensured packed houses for all of AfS' projects thus far.
2 Comments
sequin
1/19/2017 03:08:56 pm
very interesting. Didn't realize much of this!
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Cathy H.
2/1/2017 06:34:31 pm
wish we could go back to those days, don't you! Imagine seeing Shakespeare's plays for real when that was the regular language.
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AuthorBlog posts are written by various members of Artists from Suburbia's productions and staff. Archives
July 2017
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