Significant Gestures: Two Medieval Illustrations of Classical Theatre

McKinnell, J.

Significant Gestures: Two Medieval Illustrations of Classical Theatre

McKinnell, J.

Authors

Professor John Mckinnell john.mckinnell@durham.ac.uk
Emeritus Professor

Contributors

Sarah Carpenter
Editor

Pamela King
Editor

Peter Meredith
Editor

Abstract

This article uses two important manuscript illustrations to contrast fourteenth-century ideas about the performance of classical tragedy, which were based on rather inaccurate antiquarian reconstruction, with those for the comedies of Terence, which had enjoyed a continuing tradition of performance. The article shows how the move from the semi-circular classical theatre to performance in a medieval hall gradually changed performance conventions and led to a style of acting in which masks were discarded and lead gestures were made with the upstage hand (rather than always with the right hand, as was done in the Roman theatre).

Citation

McKinnell, J. (2001). Significant Gestures: Two Medieval Illustrations of Classical Theatre. In S. Carpenter, P. King, & P. Meredith (Eds.), Porci ante margaritam : essays in honour of Meg Twycross (289-320). University of Leicester

Publication Date	2001
Deposit Date	Oct 18, 2006
Pages	289-320
Series Title	Leeds studies in English
Series Number	32
Book Title	Porci ante margaritam : essays in honour of Meg Twycross.
Keywords	14th Century, Fourteenth Century, Tragedy, Semi-circular classical theatre, Acting style.
Publisher URL	http://www.leeds.ac.uk/english/activities/publications/studies.php?file=studies