vernacular drama

Vernacular drama in the medieval period emerged from religious ceremonies within churches, evolving from simple gestures and mime into dramatic interpolations on biblical events. As these performances grew more elaborate, they moved from the church to stages or carts in town streets, becoming secular affairs performed by guild craftsmen or professional actors for local festivals.1

Three main types of plays developed: mystery plays, miracle plays, and morality plays. While their themes remained religious, these plays often incorporated humorous, farcical, and even bawdy elements. A well-known example of a morality play is Everyman. These dramas, often anonymous, presented biblical stories from Creation to the Last Judgment, breaking them into short plays performed in the vernacular by craft guilds. They combined grand events with everyday details, humor, and cruelty, offering didactic content in a popular style.12