Why were Breton mystery plays performed for audiences?

Breton mystery plays were performed primarily to teach moral and religious lessons to their audiences. These plays, which were a significant part of Breton literature from the Middle Ages through the 19th century, focused on subjects derived from the Old and New Testaments, as well as the lives of saints.12

Beyond their didactic religious purpose, these performances served as a form of public entertainment. As mystery plays evolved into secular theatre, they incorporated elements that appealed to the general public, such as comic characters, devils, and buffoons. By moving away from Latin and into the vernacular, the plays allowed for the integration of local customs, idioms, and folk traditions, which helped strengthen the connection between the performers and the audience through a shared cultural and religious identity. In later revivals, playwrights continued to utilize the genre specifically to convey moral and religious instruction to the community.31