Mystery plays and miracle plays (sometimes distinguished as
two different forms, although the terms are often used interchangeably) are
among the earliest formally developed plays in medieval Europe. Medieval
mystery plays focused on the representation of Bible stories in churches as
tableaux with accompanying antiphonal song. They developed from the 10th to the
16th century, reaching the height of their popularity in the 15th century
before being rendered obsolete by the rise of professional theatre. The name
derives from mystery used in its sense of miracle, but an occasionally quoted
derivation is from ministerium, meaning craft, and so the 'misteries' or plays
performed by the craft guilds.
