April Showers Bring May’s Flower: Durham welcomes King James I

This months’ Flower comes from the Order Book of the City of Durham (Durham County Archives ref. Du 1/4/4). James I visited Durham in 1617 on his way to Scotland and was welcomed into the city with all due pomp and ceremony. However, behind the scenes there had been a conflict raging in the city […]

Morality Plays, Mummings, and More: Tracing the Roots of Early English Drama. REED-NE in coversation with Reading English At Durham (READ)

Devils chasing spectators with firecrackers; shipwrights presenting a pageant about Noah’s Ark. Early English drama could be spectacular and entertaining, as it presented biblical and other themes for a local audience. Mark Chambers introduces the work of the Records of Early English Drama Northeast project, which is delving into the archives to show how dramatic performances from […]

Mystery play revived in Newcastle upon Tyne

On Friday 28th March the only surviving mystery play of the Newcastle Corpus Christi cycle, Noah’s Ark, was performed by Newcastle University students and staff in the great hall of the Newcastle’s twelfth century Castle Keep. This late-medieval biblical play – probably originally and performed each year by the Newcastle Shipwrights’ guild at the Feast […]

‘Modyr Nakett’ (Mother Naked)

Each month, we will post an amusing, interesting, or noteworthy entry drawn from the growing REED-NE evidence. This month’s ‘flower’: ‘Modyr Nakett’ In the Durham Priory Bursar’s annual account running from 11th November for 1433-1434, a number of payments are recorded as having been made to various entertainers, including an entry for 4 pence given […]

New ‘Flower of the Month’ page launched

Have a look at our new ‘Flower of the Month’ web page where, each month, we will post an amusing, interesting, or noteworthy entry drawn from the growing REED-NE evidence. This month’s flower: the mysterious ‘Modyr Nakett’: https://reed-ne.webspace.durham.ac.uk/?page_id=344

Dr Diana Wyatt to speak at the Cambridge Medieval English Theatre meeting

Our REED-NE colleague Dr Diana Wyatt will contribute a paper to this year’s Medieval English Theatre (METh) meeting which takes place in Murray Edwards College, Cambridge on 29 March. The title of Dr Wyatt’s paper will be: ‘”I’d have dressed for the occasion”: reflections on audience engagement with biblical plays’. A brief abstract: ‘In accordance […]

The REED-NE Project Office Welcomes You!

The REED-NE Project Office is now open: Room 267 Elvet Riverside II, New Elvet, Durham University (Durham), DH1 3JT; tel. +44 (0)1913344333. If you’re a Durham resident, student or scholar who’s interested in the work of the project, or if you’re going to be visiting Durham in the near future and would like more information […]

Medieval English Theatre Meeting, 2014

To note:  METh (Medieval English Theatre) will hold its annual meeting in Cambridge University on 29 March. This year’s theme is ‘Audiences’ and will be hosted by Elsa Strietman at Murray Edwards College, Cambridge. Proposals are requested by the end of January at the latest. A REED-NE project member will be in attendance and will […]

Records of Early English Drama Northeast

Welcome to the Records of Early English Drama Northeast Blog! Here our Durham-based project members will be posting regular updates regarding the ongoing work of the project, as well as keeping you up-to-date with news, events and performances relating to early English drama from the notheastern counties and elsewhere. Blog followers are warmly invited to […]