PLS ONLINE RESOURCES

(Early plays were usually funded by circulation-based economics, stimulating the flow of money, support, and goodwill among friends and communities, rather than the consumption-based model we’re used to in present-day theatres. So we will always offer these materials free of charge, but please consider making a donation to support the work we do — and to keep the goodwill flowing!)

PLAY SCRIPTS

Duke Moraud, translated (by M. Sergi) from the Middle English, early 15th century

The Chester Plays, adapted (by A. Johnston and L. Phillips) from the early English, MS 1591

Dame Sirith and The Fox and the Wolf, translated (by M. Sergi) from the early Middle English, MS c. 1272-82

PLS (Poculi Ludique Societas) develops and presents productions of early plays, from the beginnings of medieval drama to the middle of the seventeenth century. PLS — a registered non-profit charity funded primarily by donations — operates in affiliation with the University of Toronto’s Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies, and has also been associated informally with the university’s Centre For Medieval Studies for over forty years, offering a regular schedule of plays every year on or near campus, while periodically touring in Canada, the United States and Europe. We are currently reworking our website and online presence; we’re locating a beta-test version of our FREE ONLINE RESOURCES page here at Prof. Matt Sergi’s website — please share feedback with him at sergi.utoronto@gmail.com.

PRODUCTION VIDEOS

A truly historically-informed early drama production should be significantly different at every run — and videos do not at all do it justice! Use these recordings as rough guides to what our productions have been, and what future productions could be (please consider making a donation when you do) — and then use the script links under each video to try reading them aloud (or even producing them) yourself, in your own different-at-every-run style!

The York Plays, translated (by C. Scoville and K. Yates) from the Middle English, MS 1463-77