History, theatre unite for a medieval experience

By Nicholas Burge

It might seem out of the ordinary to think history and theatre classes have a lot in common. However, students in Performing Identity: Religion, Race, and Gender in Medieval Europe and Theatre History 1 have learned the two subjects are intertwined. The students in these classes collaborated to recreate the play “Moses and Pharaoh” during the spring semester. The play dates to medieval Europe (roughly 500 A.D-1500 A.D.) and was considered a cycle play, which means that it would have originally been performed throughout a city on a wagon that moved from location to location.

The project was introduced by Assistant Professor of History Lynneth Renberg, who developed the idea for the interdisciplinary course in response to requests from past students.

“The comment from students was that it would have been really cool to see what a medieval performance would have looked like,” said Renberg.

Renberg taught the history class involved in the production. Students from this class worked with students in the Department of Theatre and Dance on recreating the play. In doing so, the students got to experience what people in the medieval period would have experienced.

“One of the big things is making medieval life more real,” Renberg said. “It’s sometimes hard to wrap our heads around some of these experiences. So I think it’s a very cool chance to get to see various aspects of medieval history...literally come to life.”

Samuel Sanders, a sophomore history major, said the class allowed him and his classmates to better understand the experiences of the people during this time in history.

“Our class has mainly been focusing on the history behind the plays along with what they mean and why they were put on,” Sanders said. “This has allowed us to have a lot of insight into how the laypeople of the time would have experienced these plays. We have also been looking at the context of the plays and the different gaming theories that went into the creation of the plays. It wasn’t the easiest process, but it has been fun.”

The theatre aspect of this production was run by the student production team from the Theatre History 1 course taught by Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance David Sollish.

“The theatre students hold the reigns of the production. The faculty and staff are here to support their vision and their work,” Sollish said.

While the production team was made up of theatre majors, Sollish said the cast of the play comprised theatre majors, minors, and students from other areas of campus.

The “Moses and Pharaoh” cast and production team rehearse one of the final scenes.

Photo by Nicholas Burge

History students, rather than acting in the play, contributed by being the historians to the cast and production team. Renberg said the students would explain how “medieval drama works, kind of the historical context to the play, and the way medieval audiences would’ve understood and engaged it.”

Renberg also noted that her students would help with other duties such as costuming and set construction.

“I will be working with the Department of Theatre and Dance to help build the set and stage for the play along with doing a presentation to some of the cast on how medieval Europeans understood the Middle East along with some context on Egypt and Goshen during biblical times,” Sanders said during the planning stages. “So, I will be more of a background supporter than someone who works during the actual performance.”

Caroline Byce, a junior acting major and director of “Moses and Pharaoh,” said more collaborative projects like this should be done in the future.

“Moses and Pharoah,” a medieval cycle play is performed on the AU campus.

AU photo

“I often feel like in the Department of Theatre and Dance we are in our own little world. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing; it takes a lot of time and energy to get a show off the ground,” Byce said. “However, theatre is a very collaborative art form, and working together with other departments prepares us for that very well.”

Sollish also said the collaborative experience was valuable for both classes.

“I think it is incredibly important for departments across campus to collaborate,” Sollish said. “Our students learn so much when new perspectives and techniques are brought into a process that they know very well; this keeps us fresh and creative. I think this collaboration, in particular, has been a wonderful first step to future interdisciplinary projects.”