Medieval Strolling Players

Medieval Strolling players were travelling actors that formed into groups, performing to eager audiences in medieval cities, towns, and villages.

Strolling Players Medieval Play

Medieval Strolling Players Perform Boccaccio Orestes Medieval Play

Strolling players performed plays in theatres and also open-air venues, a group of strolling players usually consisted of people who had different types of skills so it made the group capable of delivering varied and interesting performances.

  • What Shows Did Strolling Players Perform?
  • Who could be a Strolling Player?
  • What plays were popular in medieval times?
  • What led to the decline of Strolling Players?

Strolling Players Reputation

Many ordinary medieval people loved the entertainment that strolling players provided, however, medieval people were also wary of them, some thought of them as being vagabonds and thieves who created problems and stole things whilst they visited and then vanished to the next medieval town or village.

Medieval Strolling Players

Strolling Players Mystery Play

Strolling Players Performances

Strolling players were travelling entertainers that went from village to town, from town to city telling stories, jesting, playing music, and performing spectacular shows that included acrobatics. Strolling players were all-around entertainers who came from all walks of medieval life.

Medieval Stroling Players *Acrobats

Medieval Strolling Players *Acrobats

The themes of medieval players was commonly based around religion or current events. One very popular play was Robin Hood which was enjoyed by medieval people.

Strolling Players – Types of Plays in Medieval Times

Travelling performers like the strolling players had a wide set of skills and they were many different plays that they could perform, In medieval times Vernacular Plays and Morality plays that covered chivalry and conduct were popular.

Medieval Strolling Players

Medieval Strolling Players

The Bible and religion was a subject that was widely covered in medieval plays and strolling players would adapt their acts to what was popular at the time.

Strolling Players Fast Facts

  • Plays such as Robin Hood were popular themes for Strolling Players
  • Morality and Chivalry was a common theme for Strolling Players
  • Strolling Players were a travelling band of performers mainly actors
  • Religion was also a common theme for Strolling Players
  • Strolling Players performed in rooms, theatres, and in open areas such as fields

Strolling Players Costumes

Medieval Strolling players wore costumes that were relevant to the plays they were performing.

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Masks were an important part of a Strolling players costume, these masks were usually bizarre-looking and had a grotesque look to them which would usually scare the audience.

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Strolling Players and Government Control

As the medieval period progressed the church and government who had the most power wanted to bring these Strolling players under their control. They believed the Strolling players were a threat to their authority as they could stir up dissent amongst medieval people.

Robin Hood Popular Play of Medieval Strolling Players

Robin Hood *Popular Play of Medieval Strolling Players

It was thought that the message in plays such as Robin Hood “Taking from the rich to give to the Poor”, would create a rebellion amongst medieval people. This led to the Church and government introducing a ban on travelling actors and they were completely banned after the end of the medieval period in 1572.

Robin Hood was a Legend to Medieval People

Robin Hood *A Legend to Medieval People

Strolling Players and the Black Death

It was claimed that the strolling players spread diseases from area to area as they performed, the Church and the Government had already decided that the strolling players were a danger to their authority and had decided to ban them and when the black death appeared this had an effect of being yet another reason for them to demand that strolling players be banned.

The Black Death and banning of Strolling Players in Medieval Times

Black Death

Strolling players themselves had probably been too scared to enter towns and cities during the Black death period as there was a good chance that you would die from the bubonic plague (Black Death).

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Strolling Players Fast Facts

  • Strolling Players performed popular plays like Robin Hood
  • The Church did not like the messages contained in plays like Robin Hood
  • The Church and Government decided to ban travelling performers like the Strolling Players
  • The Black Death also helped in the decline of the Strolling Players
  • Strolling Players were banned from performing in 1572

Strolling Players Summary

Strolling players were important entertainers in medieval times, they performed plays that often had an important message or theme. The Church and Government became concerned with the messages being conveyed to medieval people in these uncontrolled plays such as Robin Hood and eventually banned strolling players from performing.