High Middle Ages

===Theatre===
{{Main|Medieval theatre}}
Economic and political changes in the High Middle Ages led to the formation of [[guilds]] and the growth of towns, and this would lead to significant changes for theatre starting in this time and continuing into the [[Late Middle Ages]]. Trade guilds began to perform plays, usually religiously based, and often dealing with a biblical story that referenced their profession. For instance, a baker's guild would perform a reenactment of the [[Last Supper]].<ref>''A History of English literature for Students'', by Robert Huntington Fletcher, 1916: pp. 85–88</ref>  In the [[British Isles]], plays were produced in some 127 different towns during the Middle Ages. These vernacular [[Mystery plays]] were written in cycles of a large number of plays: [[York Mystery Plays|York]] (48 plays), [[Chester Mystery Plays|Chester]] (24), [[Wakefield Mystery Plays|Wakefield]] (32) and [[N-Town Plays|Unknown]] (42). A larger number of plays survive from France and Germany in this period and some type of religious dramas were performed in nearly every European country in the Late Middle Ages. Many of these plays contained [[comedy]], [[devil]]s, [[villain]]s and [[clown]]s.<ref>Brockett and Hildy (2003, 86)</ref>

There were also a number of secular performances staged in the Middle Ages, the earliest of which is ''The Play of the Greenwood'' by [[Adam de la Halle]] in 1276. It contains satirical scenes and [[Folk culture|folk]] material such as [[faeries]] and other supernatural occurrences. [[Farce]]s also rose dramatically in popularity after the 13th century. The majority of these plays come from France and Germany and are similar in tone and form, emphasizing sex and bodily excretions.<ref>Brockett and Hildy (2003, 96)</ref>