Final answer:
The Catholic Church's Medieval liturgical dramas, which originated during the Middle Ages, are considered the link between worship services and the rebirth of Western theatrical traditions. These religious performances evolved into Mystery and Morality plays as well as autos sacramentales in Spain, often held in movable structures known as mansions or on wagons called carros, which later influenced the creation of large theatre complexes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Medieval Liturgical Drama and the Resurgence of Western Theatre
The Medieval liturgical drama that coordinated dramatic performances bridging the gap between worship services and theatrical principles is largely credited to the Catholic Church during the Middle Ages.
Following the decline of the Roman Empire, the Church filled the void left by the loss of secular theatre, which had been viewed as immoral and subsequently banned.
The institution paradoxically became the cradle for theatre's rebirth in the West through liturgical drama, particularly focusing on the Easter celebrations depicting the Resurrection.
These early dramatic performances took place within the Church itself, with simple settings and costumes, and they relied heavily on singing and chanting by clergy members.
They were performed in the nave of the church, referred to as the platea, with specific locations known as mansions representing holy sites such as Jerusalem and Paradise.
Over time, as these representations became more popular, they moved outside church walls into courtyards and town squares. Eventually, this led to the development of Mystery plays, Morality plays, and autos sacramentales in Spain, which were all still deeply entrenched in religious themes and performed by laypeople on movable wagons called carros.
Through these developments, the Church inadvertently set the foundational stone for present-day theatrical structures and practices.
What started as simple dramatizations within worship services evolved into complex theatrical presentations and eventually into full-blown theatre complexes similar to today's National Theatre or Lincoln Center, designed to holistically encompass the diverse needs of theatrical performances.