The Fleury Playbook: liturgical drama and its production in Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire

Vol.21,No.1(2018)

Amálie Bulandrová

https://doi.org/10.5817/TY2018-1-7

Stable URL (handle):
http://hdl.handle.net/11222.digilib/137914

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Abstract
Present study comprises the function of visual elements of medieval sacred buildings in liturgical theatre productions. In the first part, the author defines the theatrical genre, outlining its connection to liturgy proper which itself has a striking theatrical quality. Based on a number of period texts, the author proves the tendencies to consider liturgy a kind of theatrical performance existed as early as the 9th century. As a consequence, the interiors of sacred buildings are considered stage designs for performances of liturgical theatre, and analysed as such, e. g. Benedictine abbey St. Fleury (France), the library of which hosts a manuscript of ten liturgical plays from 12th century, so-called Fleury Playbook. The plausible staging of these plays in the monastic church of St. Benedict is yet another reason to regard the church as a scenographic environment, as is argued in detail in the second part of the paper.

Keywords:
liturgical theatre; liturgy; Fleury Plabook; Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire; Fleury Abbey; pilgrimage; ritual space; stage design; scenography

Pages:
133–149
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