Of all the medieval people who sound as though they should be made up, Roland le Pettour, also known as Roland le Fartere, must be near the top of the list. An entertainer who worked for Henry II, ...

These comedians had “the instinct to self-ironize, to use crude bodily humor, to use slapstick and situational comedy, and the willingness to make the audience the butt of the joke.” Yet if Wade’s new ...

Medieval traveling minstrels often journeyed hundreds of miles by foot to conferences to learn new songs. Liza Malamut, artistic director of The Newberry Consort, has joined forces with Allison Monroe ...

In the Heege manuscript, an English tutor may have copied the text of a medieval minstrel’s repertoire book. National Library of Scotland If you’ve ever played the video game “Skyrim” or watched a ...

An unprecedented record of medieval live comedy performance has been identified in a 15th-century manuscript. Raucous texts—mocking kings, priests and peasants; encouraging audiences to get drunk; and ...

One of the liveliest off-Broadway hits in Manhattan last week was a 12th century music-drama with a 20th century box office sparkle. The drama: The Play of Daniel, which used to be performed annually ...