Academic drama refers to a theatrical movement that emerged in the mid 16th century during the Renaissance. Dedicated to the study of classical dramas for the purpose of higher education, universities in England began to produce the plays of Sophocles, Euripides, and Seneca the Younger (among others) in the Greek and Roman languages, as well as neoclassical dramas. These classical and neoclassical productions were performed by young scholars at universities in Cambridge and Oxford. Other European countries, such as Spain and Italy, adapted classical plays into a mixture of Latin and vernacular dramas. These Spanish and Italian adaptations were used in teaching morals in schools and colleges. The intellectual development of dramas in schools, universities, and Inns of Court in Europe allowed the emergence of the great playwrights of the late 16th century.

At Oxford University

The history of academic drama at Oxford University may be traced back to the mid 16th century. While there are records indicating dramatic performances were performed prior, dramatic production greatly increased in the 16th century. Academic dramas were performed in Christ Church and St. John's College at Oxford. The plays produced at Oxford were originally written in Latin, based on classical models. Used to teach playwriting and acting, these plays were written by both the students and instructors. In performance, audiences typically consisted of fellow students, though visits from royalty occasionally occurred. Among these royals were Queen Elizabeth I and King James I.

It is evident that academic drama at Oxford was highly regarded as a crucial part of the educational experience. The university covered all performance expenses. Additionally, no entrance fees were charged.

At Cambridge University

In producing academic drama, the colleges at Cambridge University were decidedly confined to performing Latin works. When Queen Elizabeth I sent requests to both Cambridge and Oxford requesting the performance of an English comedy, she was met with a decline from Cambridge. Cambridge replied they did not use plays in English. Though Cambridge did not indulge the Queen with an English comedy, they were not opposed to Neo-Latin comedies. The majority of surviving English neo-Latin university dramas were performed at Cambridge. Performances at Cambridge were in Latin and the material of choice was the classics. Folios found at St. John's at Cambridge show records of costumes housed for performances. It is believed these costumes were used in the acting of classical works by Aristophanes and Terence, as well as in morality plays.

At the Inns of Court The Inns of Court are referred to as the third university of England. The Inns of Court were where practicing lawyers and law students gathered to eat, socialize, gain legal education, board, and be entertained. There were four of these Inns of Court: Gray's Inn, Inner Temple, Lincoln's Inn, and Middle Temple. In contrast to Cambridge and Oxford, who produced theatre as a literary study, the London Inns of Court produced theatre as a means of entertainment. Beginning around 1587, the Inns of Court produced masques and revels, yet another contrast from the Oxford and Cambridge plays. Until the end of the 17th century, these performances typically took the form of masques written by law students at the Inns of Court. Once the Inns of Court transitioned from masques to plays, the so-called third university served as a cradle for classical English drama. Eventually, by the early 17th century, writers such as Ben Jonson and William Shakespeare began producing English comedies at the Inns of Court, thus expanding the range of materials performed. After 1614, the masques were written and designed by professionals; simultaneously the new emerging dramas were written and performed by professional theatre practitioners. Due to the close proximity to the English court, nobility frequently attended the performances at the Inns of Court.

Classical drama performed Academic drama was formed as an educational tool, not only to advance the arts, but to teach classical literature and language. Key subject matter for performance were classical dramas of ancient Greece and Rome. Prominent playwrights whose works were performed as part of the academic drama tradition include Aristophanes, Plautus, Seneca the Younger, and Terence. Play Playwright Date Performed Location of Performance Language Plutus Aristophanes 1536 St. John's, Cambridge Greek Pax Aristophanes 1546 Trinity, Cambridge Greek Poenulus Plautus 1549 Queens', Cambridge Latin Troades Seneca the younger 1551–2 Trinity, Cambridge Latin Menaechmi Plautus 1551–2 Trinity, Cambridge Latin Stichus Plautus 1544 Queens', Cambridge Latin a commedie Plautus 1557 Trinity, Cambridge Latin Oedipus Seneca the younger 1559–60 Trinity, Cambridge Latin Mostellaria Plautus 1559–60 Trinity, Cambridge Latin Hecuba Seneca the younger 1559–60 Trinity, Cambridge Latin Amphitruo Plautus 1560–1 Trinity, Cambridge Latin Troades Seneca the younger 1560–1 Trinity, Cambridge Latin Medea Seneca the younger 1560–1 Trinity, Cambridge Latin Adelphi Terence 1562–3 Jesus, Cambridge Latin Curculio Plautus 1562–3 Jesus, Cambridge Latin Pseudolus Plautus 1562–3 Trinity, Cambridge Latin Adelphi Terence 1562–3 Trinity, Cambridge Latin Phormio Terence 1562–3 Trinity, Cambridge Latin Medea Seneca the younger 1563 Queens', Cambridge Latin Eunuchus Terence 1563–4 Jesus, Cambridge Latin Trinummus Plautus 1563–4 Trinity, Cambridge Latin Bacchides Plautus 1563–4 Trinity, Cambridge Latin Aulularia Plautus 1563–4 King's, Cambridge Latin Stichus Plautus 1564–5 Trinity, Cambridge Latin Menaechmi Plautus 1565–6 Trinity, Cambridge Latin Eunuchus Terence 1566–7 Merton, Oxford Latin Menaechmi Plautus 1567–8 Merton, Oxford Latin Bacchides Plautus 1579 Jesus, Cambridge Latin Persa Plautus 1583 St. John's, Cambridge Latin Hippolytus Seneca the younger (with additional scenes by Gager) 1591–2 Christ Church, Oxford Latin

Neo-Latin/English drama performed Neo-Latin or New Latin dramas as they may also be referred to, were plays written in Latin by students and professors at Oxford, Cambridge, and the Inns of Court. Subject matter ranged from religious, to satirical, to mythological. Eventually these original plays began to be written in English, preparing the way for the English drama of the Elizabethan Age. Play Playwright Date Performed Location of Performance Language Microcosmus T. Artour 1520–32 St. John's, Cambridge Latin Mundas Plumbeus T. Artour 1520–32 St. John's, Cambridge Latin Piscator siue Fraus Illusa J. Hoker 1535–43 Magdalen, Oxford Latin Thersites Anon. 1537 Magdalen, Oxford English Christus Rediuiuus Nicholas Grimald 1540 Brasenose, Oxford Latin Christus Nascens Nicholas Grimald 1540– Merton or Christ Chrich, Oxford Latin Protomartyr Nicholas Grimald 1540– Merton or Christ Church, Oxford Latin Fama Nicholas Grimald 1540– Merton or Christ Church, Oxford Latin Athanasius siue infamia Nicholas Grimald 1540– Merton or Christ Church, Oxford Latin Troilus Nicholas Grimald 1540– Merton or Christ Church, Oxford English De puerorum in musicis institutione Nicholas Grimald 1540– Merton or Christ Church, Oxford English Absalon T. Watson c. 1540 St. John's, Cambridge Latin dialogus R. Textor 1543 Queens', Cambridge Latin Pammachius T. Kirchmayer 1545 Christ's, Cambridge Latin Archiproheta Nicholas Grimald 1546–7 Christ Church, Oxford Latin Heli H. Ziegler 1547–8 Queens', Cambridge Latin Grammer Gurtons Nedle undetermined 1550–60 Christ's, Cambridge English Strylius Nicholas Robinson (bishop) 1552–3 Queens', Cambridge Latin A lernyd tragedy Anon. 1553–6 New College, Oxford Latin de crumena perdita Anon. 1554–5 Trinity, Cambridge Latin both the English plaies Anon. 1559–60 Trinity, Cambridge Latin Sapientia Solomonis Sixt Birck 1559–60 Trinity, Cambridge Latin Acolastus Wilhelm Gnapheus 1560–1 Trinity, Cambridge Latin John babtiste George Buchanan 1562–3 Trinity, Cambridge Latin Christus Triumphans J. Foxe 1562–3 Trinity, Cambridge Latin Dido E. Haliwell 1564 King's, Cambridge Latin Ezechias Nicholas Udall 1564 King's, Cambridge English A burlesque on the Romanist bishops Anon. 1564 At Hinchinbrook, Cambridge English Philanira C. Roilletus 1564–5 Trinity, Cambridge Latin Asotus Macropedius 1565–6 Trinity, Cambridge Latin Crumenaria Anon. 1565–6 Trinity, Cambridge Latin Marcus Geminus Anon. 1566 Christ Church, Oxford Latin Palamon and Arcyte Parts 1 and 2 Richard Edwardes 1566 Christ Church, Oxford Latin Progne James Calfhill 1566 Christ Church, Oxford Latin Iephthes J. Christopherson 1566–7 Trinity, Cambridge Latin Wylie Beguylie Anon. 1566–7 Merton, Oxford English Damon and Pythias (play) Richard Edwardes 1567–8 Merton, Oxford English The Destruction of Thebes Anon. 1569 Christ Church, Oxford Latin Hymenaeus Abraham Fraunce or H. Hickman c. 1578–9 St. John's, Cambridge Latin Victoria Abraham Fraunce 1579–83 St. John's, Cambridge Latin Richardus Tertius Thomas Legge 1579–80 St. John's, Cambridge Latin The Destruction of Jerusalem Thomas Legge 1580–98 Caius, Cambridge Latin Pendantius A. Wingfield 1580–1 Trinity, Cambridge Latin Puer vapulans Anon. 1581–2 Jesus, Cambridge Latin Supposes G. Gascoigne 1581–2 Trinity, Oxford English Caesar Interfectus R. Eedes 1581–2 Christ Church, Oxford Latin Meleager W. Gager 1581–2 Christ Church, Oxford Latin Bellum Grammaticale Leonard Hutten c. 1582 Christ Church, Oxford Latin Comedy satirizing the Mayor of Cambridge T. Mudde 1582–3 Pembroke, Oxford English Riuales W. Gager 1583 Christ Church, Oxford Latin Dido W. Gager 1583 Christ Church, Oxford Latin Meleager W. Gager 1584–5 Christ Church, Oxford Latin Tarrarantantara turba trigonum Tri-Harueyorum Anon. 1585–6 Clare Hall, Cambridge Latin Duns furens Anon. 1585–6 Peterhouse, Cambridge Latin Terminus et non terminus Thomas Nashe and other student c. 1586 St. John's, Cambridge Latin Octavia pseudo-Senecan 1588 Christ Church, Oxford Latin Vlysses Redux W. Gager 1591–2 Christ Church, Oxford Latin Bellum Grammaticale Leonard Hutten 1592 Christ Church, Oxford Latin Roxana W. Alabaster c. 1592 Trinity, Cambridge Latin Caesars Reuenge Anon. c. 1594 Trinity, Oxford Latin Laelia Anon. 1594–5 Queens', Cambridge Latin Siluanus Anon. 1596–7 St. John's, Cambridge Latin Hispanus Anon. 1596–7 St. John's, Cambridge Latin Machiauellus Anon. 1597 St. John's, Cambridge Latin The Pilgrimage to Parnassus Parnassus plays Anon. 1598 St. John's, Cambridge English Leander W. Hawkesworth 1598–9 Trinity, Cambridge Latin Club Law G. Ruggle 1599–1600 Clare Hall, Cambridge English The Return from Parnassus Part I Parnassus plays Anon. 1601 St. John's, Cambridge English The Return from Parnassus Part II Parnassus plays Anon. 1602 St. John's, Cambridge English Narcissus Anon. 1602–3 St. John's, Oxford English Leander W. Hawkesworth 1602–3 Trinity, Cambridge Latin Labyrinthus W. Hawkesworth 1602–3 Trinity, Cambridge Latin Nero M. Gwynne 1602–3 St. John's, Oxford Latin

See also Jesuit drama Studentes, a German Neo-Latin play written for similar purposes

References