History of Drama
Introduction
Drama is one of the oldest forms of literature. The word drama comes from the Greek word dran, which means “to do” or “to act.” Drama is a literary form written to be performed by actors on a stage before an audience. It includes dialogue, characters, action, conflict, and emotions.
The history of drama can be divided into several important periods, from ancient Greek theatre to modern drama.
1. Ancient Greek Drama (c. 600–300 BCE)
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Drama developed significantly in ancient Greece. It was closely connected with religious festivals held in honour of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and fertility.
The two major forms of Greek drama were:
Tragedy: A serious play that often presents suffering, conflict, and the downfall of a central character.
Comedy: A humorous play that often makes fun of human behaviour and society.
Important Greek dramatists included:
Aeschylus — Agamemnon
Sophocles — Oedipus Rex
Euripides — Medea
Aristophanes — Lysistrata
Greek drama introduced important ideas about plot, character, conflict, and theatrical performance.
2. Roman Drama (c. 300 BCE–500 CE)
The Roman Theatre (Teatro Romano) at Merida
The Romans adopted many theatrical traditions from the Greeks. Roman drama included comedy, tragedy, mime, and public entertainment.
Important Roman dramatists were:
Plautus — famous for his comedies.
Terence — known for his character-based comedies.
Seneca — known for his tragedies.
Roman theatre influenced later European drama through its acting traditions, stage practices, and dramatic texts.
3. Medieval Drama (c. 500–1500 CE)
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During the Middle Ages, drama in Europe was strongly influenced by Christianity. Many plays were performed in churches and later in public places.
The main types were:
Mystery plays: Presented stories from the Bible.
Miracle plays: Depicted the lives and miracles of saints.
Morality plays: Taught lessons about good and evil through symbolic characters.
An important example is Everyman, a morality play about human life, death, and responsibility.
4. Renaissance Drama (c. 1500–1660)
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The Renaissance brought renewed interest in classical literature, human nature, and artistic expression. English drama developed rapidly during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and the early Stuart period.
The most famous dramatist of this period was William Shakespeare (1564–1616).
His major plays include:
Hamlet
Macbeth
Othello
King Lear
Romeo and Juliet
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Other important dramatists included Christopher Marlowe, known for Doctor Faustus, and Ben Jonson, known for Volpone.
Renaissance drama explored love, ambition, jealousy, power, revenge, and human nature.
5. Restoration Drama (1660–1700)
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In 1660, the English monarchy was restored under Charles II, and theatres reopened after being closed by the Puritan authorities in 1642.
Restoration drama became known for witty dialogue, social satire, and comedy of manners. Women were also allowed to perform professionally on the English stage.
Important dramatists included:
William Congreve — The Way of the World
John Dryden — All for Love
Aphra Behn — The Rover
These plays often explored fashionable society, marriage, love, and social hypocrisy.
6. Eighteenth-Century Drama (1700–1800)
During the eighteenth century, drama increasingly reflected middle-class life, morality, and social values. Sentimental comedy became popular, while satirical plays criticised social behaviour and political institutions.
Important dramatists included:
Richard Brinsley Sheridan — The School for Scandal
Oliver Goldsmith — She Stoops to Conquer
John Gay — The Beggar's Opera
The period helped establish new forms of comedy and social criticism.
7. Romantic Drama (Late 18th–Mid-19th Century)
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Romantic drama emphasised imagination, emotion, individual freedom, and extraordinary characters. Writers often challenged the strict rules of classical drama.
Important dramatists included:
Lord Byron — Manfred
Percy Bysshe Shelley — Prometheus Unbound
Victor Hugo — Hernani (French drama)
Although Romantic drama was influential in literature, many Romantic plays were more often read than performed on stage.
8. Realistic and Modern Drama (Late 19th Century)
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In the late nineteenth century, dramatists began presenting everyday life and social problems more realistically. They addressed marriage, gender inequality, class differences, morality, and social conventions.
Important playwrights included:
Henrik Ibsen — A Doll's House
Anton Chekhov — The Cherry Orchard
George Bernard Shaw — Pygmalion
Oscar Wilde — The Importance of Being Earnest
Realistic drama changed theatre by focusing on believable characters, ordinary settings, and important social questions.
9. Twentieth-Century Drama
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Twentieth-century drama experimented with new themes, styles, and performance techniques. It reflected war, political conflict, alienation, identity, and the difficulties of modern life.
Major movements included:
Expressionism: Presented inner emotions and distorted experiences.
Theatre of the Absurd: Explored the apparent meaninglessness and uncertainty of human existence.
Epic theatre: Encouraged audiences to think critically about society and politics.
Kitchen-sink realism: Presented ordinary working-class life and social problems.
Important playwrights included:
Samuel Beckett — Waiting for Godot
Arthur Miller — Death of a Salesman
Bertolt Brecht — Mother Courage and Her Children
Tennessee Williams — A Streetcar Named Desire
10. Indian Drama: A Brief History
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Indian drama has a long history. The Natyashastra, traditionally attributed to Bharata Muni, is an important ancient Sanskrit treatise on theatre, dance, and music.
Important Sanskrit dramatists include:
Kalidasa — Abhijnanashakuntalam
Bhasa — Swapnavasavadattam
Shudraka — Mrichchhakatika
Indian theatre also developed through regional and folk traditions such as Yakshagana, Jatra, Tamasha, and Bhavai.
In modern Indian drama, important playwrights include:
Vijay Tendulkar — Ghashiram Kotwal
Girish Karnad — Tughlaq
Mohan Rakesh — Adhe Adhure
Rabindranath Tagore — The Post Office
Modern Indian drama explores social inequality, identity, tradition, political power, and changing cultural values.
11. Contemporary Drama (Late 20th Century–Present)
Contemporary drama uses a wide range of styles, including realism, experimental theatre, multimedia, and interactive performance. Modern playwrights explore identity, migration, race, gender, technology, environmental issues, and political conflict.
Plays may be performed in traditional theatres, schools, community spaces, and outdoor venues. Film, television, and digital platforms have also expanded the ways dramatic stories reach audiences.
Timeline of the History of Drama
Period
Main features
Ancient Greek
Tragedy and comedy
Roman
Comedy, tragedy, and public entertainment
Medieval
Religious and morality plays
Renaissance
Shakespearean and Elizabethan drama
Restoration
Comedy of manners and satire
Eighteenth century
Sentimental comedy and social criticism
Romantic period
Imagination, emotion, and freedom
Late nineteenth century
Realism and social problems
Twentieth century
Absurdism, epic theatre, and experimentation
Contemporary period
Diverse themes and new technologies
Conclusion
The history of drama shows how theatre has changed alongside society. It began with ancient religious and cultural performances
and developed into a diverse literary and performing art. From Greek tragedies and Shakespearean plays to modern experimental theatre, drama continues to entertain audiences, express human emotions, question social values, and communicate important ideas.
