Drama is a mode of fictional representation through dialogue and performance. It is one of the literary genres, which is an imitation of some action. Drama is also a type of play written for theater, television, radio and film.

In simple words, a drama is a composition in verse or prose presenting a story in pantomime or dialogue. It contains a conflict of characters, particularly the ones who perform in front of the audience on stage. The person who writes drama for stage directions is known as a ‘dramatist’ or ‘playwright’.

Types of Drama

There are several types of drama. Some of the most common forms are given below.

1. Comedy: plays or dramas that are meant to create laughter among the readers or audiences
2. Comedy of manners: plays or dramas that are meant to make fun of the manners and ways of a social group for correction
3. Commedia dell’artea: Italian plays that are meant to create characters to place them in improvised situations; it was also called a comedy of profession. Most of the characters presented in such plays were masters, lovers and servants.
4. Costume drama: plays or dramas that are meant to present dresses of the time
5. Farce: plays or dramas that present buffoons, horseplay for crude characterization
6. Shadow play: dramas and plays that are used to present shadows instead of characters on the stage
7. Soap operas: plays or dramas that present a domestic thematic strand full of sentimentalism
8. Tragedy: the oldest form of drama that intends to present tragic emotions on stage
9. Romantic comedy: a form of comedy, these dramas and plays are meant to present light-hearted moments of life
10. Tragicomedy: drama that presents tragedy and comedy together to make people feel relieved after watching tragic events