What types of drama are there?

Plays can be categorized based on the number of characters or the number of acts. For example, some plays have only one character while others have several characters. Plays may consist of one act, however they usually consist of three to five acts. Plays can be categorized by the way their themes are presented.

Plays may fall into one of the following categories. They may be: comedies, tragedies, historical, or contemporary. Comedies rely on humour and other literary devices to communicate their messages in a funny way. Tragedies often end with death or destruction of characters. Historical plays attempt to re-enact past events or characters of significance, such as kings or queens. Contemporary plays portray modem characters dealing with modem issues. These plays often allow playwrights to offer their perceptions and thoughts on significant human issues.