The Boundaries of the Rhetoricians' Stage

Authors

W. M. H. Hummelen, Katholieke Universiteit, Nijmegen

Abstract

In lieu of an abstract, the first paragraph of the essay follows:

From the end of the fifteenth century to the beginning of the seventeenth century the stage in the Netherlands was dominated by the rhetoricians (rederijkers) in every aspect. Guilds of these amateur poets and actors ("chambers") were found in every city and in most of the villages of Holland, Zeeland, Flanders, and Brabant. Under the direction of a self-elected board and with the help of a more or less professional poet (the factor), the chambers contributed stage performances and tableaux vivants to every festivity of the Church and the city, and these included contests between chambers of different cities and villages.¹