The Jesuit Theatre

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The Jesuit Theatre

• In the Seventeenth century many German schools ,
  protestant and Catholic, presented plays for
  teaching and training students in speaking and
  deportment.
• Many Plays were presented in Latin, others in
  vernacular.

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Jesuit Theatre

• The school drama reached its peak in catholic
  schools ran by Jesuits.
• The society of Jesus, and outgrowth of
  Counter-Reformation, founded in 1534 to combat
  heresy and strengthen the authority of the
  church.
• Education was the primary tool to influence those
  who were most likely to become future leaders of
  church and state.

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Jesuit Theatre

• By 1600, 200 schools, universities, and
  seminaries were established. By 1706 the number
  increased to 769.

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The Jesuit Theatre

• With the Jesuits the educational reached its
  highest peak prior to modern times.
• The first recorded Jesuit production occurred in
  1551. Soon after every Jesuit school performed at
  least one play a year or more.
• Students made up casts, plays were written by
  professors and audiences were members of the
  courts, municipal authorities, church
  dignitaries, parents, ect.

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The Jesuit Theatre

• First plays were in Latin, gradually had some
  vernacular and low comedy, while music,
  spectacle, and ballet crept in.
• Out of Jesuit school many of the most important
  works on theatrical practices were published in
  the 17th century.
• Well equipped theatres Completed with scenery,
  machinery, and special effects.

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The Jesuit Theatre

• In the 17th and 18th centuries the theatre could
  be found where ever the order established
  schools.
• The theatre was highly developed in Austria and
  southern Germany.
• Such plays such as Jakob Bidermanns (Cenodoxus)
  and Jakob Masens (Androphilus) plays taught the
  vanity of worldly pursuits and certainty of
  divine retribution.

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The Jesuit Theatre, Vienna
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The Jesuit Theatre, Vienna
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The Jesuit Theatre, Vienna

• The Jesuit theatre reached its peak in Vienna
  with Nikolaus of Avancinis Pietas Victrix,
  Presented befor Leopold. He was glorified in the
  play by the victory of the Christian Emperor
  Constantine for Christian faith.
• The play included battles at sea, visions, angels
  and spirits of hell and enthronement of
  Constantine.

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Pietas Victrix
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Pietas Victrix
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Pietas Victrix
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The Jesuit Theatre

• Despite theatrical sophistication, Jesuits didnt
  encourage professional theatre because it led the
  faithful astray.