The theatrica appears for the first time in the Didascalicon of Hugues of St. Victor, as the last of the seven mechanical arts. His goal is to restore the state of happiness that characterized Adam before sin, through various kinds of recreational activities, mostly related to theatrical performances. But the harsh condemnation of the theater made by the Church Fathers makes it difficult to incorporate this art into the building of Christian wisdom, and it requires eliminating any reference to the protagonists of the scene (mimes, hystrions, jokers) systematically qualified as shameful and dangerous people.