THE 18 MOST RELEVANT TYPES OF PLAYS - ART - 2025

There are different types of plays, the traditional ones being tragedy, comedy and satire; these three forms are inherited from the Greek theater. There are also opera, zarzuela, melodrama and monologue, among other types.

The origin of traditional types of works remains a mystery even today. However, it is known that by the 5th century BC they had already spread throughout Greek civilization as a way of honoring the god Dionysus.

The works evolved over time. For example, in the Renaissance the opera arose, which combined dialogue with song and dance. At this same time, the hors d'oeuvres were developed, which were presented in the intermission of dramatic works.

Between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, pantomime emerged, a type of musical comedy whose origins lie in Italy. Between the 18th and 19th centuries, vaudeville emerged in France.

At present other types of plays have been added. Some are typical of one region, such as kyogen and non-drama (Japanese plays), while others are universal in nature, such as monologue and pantomime.

The plays are the form in which the dramatic genre materializes. These involve a series of actors who represent a text (the script) in a physical space (the stage).

The 18 main types of plays

1- Tragedy

Tragedy is one of the classical genres of the Greeks. The topics covered are the fatality of destiny and death. This type of work usually ends with the death of the protagonists.

Some examples of tragedies are: Sophocles' Oedipus the King, and William Shakespeare's plays: Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and King Lear.

2- Comedy

According to Aristotle, comedies are works that seek to represent the defects and vices of human beings, exaggerating them so that they are laughable.

That is, life is observed from a comic point of view. A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare is an example of this type of play.

3- Tragicomedy

Tragicomedy is a type of work that combines elements of the two main dramatic genres: tragedy and comedy.

4- Satire

The satires are humorous works that aim to criticize society through the use of comedy.

For example, political corruption, religion, government, among other aspects, can be condemned.

5- Opera

Opera is a dramatic form that emerged in the Renaissance. This was intended to recover the elements of Greek drama by combining them with songs.

Western opera is strongly related to classical music. Some examples of this type of work are Tristan and Isolde by Richard Wagner, La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi and Madame Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini.

6- Zarzuela

The zarzuela is a typical 17th-century musical work that emerged in Spain. In this, music is mixed with dance, songs and declarations.

7- Musical

Musicals are a type of works in which songs are mixed with dialogue. They differ from operas because the song is not lyrical. In addition to this, the musicals accompany the performance with choreography.

Some examples of musicals are Wicked, West Side Story, Les Miserables, Evita, La novicia rebelde, Anita, la orfanita, among others.

8- Vaudeville

Vaudeville is a type of comedy in which comic and love themes are dealt with. It developed in France between the 18th and 19th centuries.

9- Starter

The entremés is a type of work that emerged in the Renaissance. These theatrical performances were performed in the intermission of the dramatic works. They are generally short and comical in nature.

10- Farce

The farce is a type of work similar to comedy. Its origin dates back to the Middle Ages. Grotesque and vulgar situations are represented that seek to make viewers laugh.

Dramatized events usually don't make much sense. Examples of farces are William Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors and Is He Dead? by Mark Twain.

11- Pantomime

Pantomime is a type of musical comedy originated in Italy and developed in England.

The text of the pantomimes is based on traditional stories or fairy tales. This type of work involves the audience in the performance: they are expected to sing in some parts or to interact with the actors on other occasions.

12- No drama

Non-drama is a Japanese theatrical form that developed between the 14th and 15th centuries. This type of play mixes musical elements with dance and dramatizations to create an aesthetic experience.

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Kyogen is another Japanese form that focuses on the comic elements of actions. It doesn't focus as much on music as it does on non-drama.

14- Monologue

The monologue is a play in which the actions are performed by a single actor.

15- Mimic

Mimicry is the representation in which a story is told through the movement of the body, without using spoken language.

Nowadays, the central figure is usually the mime, a silent character with his face painted white.

16- Melodrama

Melodrama is a theatrical form that is characterized by the exaggeration of the plot, the characters and the dialogues. This is intended to appeal to the emotions of the actors.

17- Immersion theater

Immersion theater is one of the most interactive forms of theater of all since it allows audience participation.

For example, the audience may be asked to make a decision for the actors, which can change the plot of the play.

18- Theater of the absurd

The theater of the absurd is a way of representing the existential questions of human beings.

What is sought is not an answer to these questions, but to materialize them on stage for the audience to discuss later.

One of the defining characteristics of this type of work is the contradiction between language and facts. That is, the dialogues exchanged between the actors oppose the actions carried out by them.

References

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2. Introduction to Theater. Types of Drama. Retrieved on October 17, 2017, from novaonline.nvcc.edu
3. Play (theater). Retrieved on October 17, 2017, from wikipedia.org
4. Theater. Retrieved on October 17, 2017, from wikipedia.org
5. The Different Types Of Theater Productions You Should Know Of. Retrieved on October 17, 2017, from wishberry.in
6. Types of Drama. Retrieved on October 17, 2017, from smsd.org
7. Types of Productions. Retrieved on October 17, 2017, from stagebeauty.net