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comedy
/ˈkɑmədi/
noun
professional entertainment that contains jokes and sketches, intended to make people laugh
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fringe theatre
/fɹˈɪndʒ θˈiəɾɚ/
noun
plays, often written by new writers, challenging the conventional ways of thinking and having a new and unusual form
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masque
/mˈæsk/
noun
an amateur play in verse including music and dancing by masked performers that was very popular among the aristocracy in England during the 16th and 17th centuries
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morality play
/mɔːɹˈælɪɾi plˈeɪ/
noun
a kind of drama in which the performers personify an abstract concept as an allegory presenting a didactic point, popular in the 15th and 16th centuries
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experimental theater
/ɛkspˌɛɹɪmˈɛntəl θˈiəɾɚ/
noun
a style that challenges traditional theatrical conventions by exploring new forms of expression and presentation
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commedia dell'arte
/kəmˈiːdiə dˈɛlɑːɹt/
noun
a form of Italian theater that originated in the 16th century and is characterized by its use of stock characters, improvised dialogue, and physical comedy
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mystery play
/mˈɪstɚɹi plˈeɪ/
noun
a kind of play popular in the Middle Ages that was based on the holy scripture or the events in the lives of Christian saints
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postmodern theater
/pˈoʊstmɑːdɚn θˈiəɾɚ/
noun
a late 20th century style of theater that is self-reflexive, often fragmented, blurs the lines between reality and fiction, and emphasizes the role of the audience in creating meaning
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postdramatic theater
/pˌoʊstdɹɐmˈæɾɪk θˈiəɾɚ/
noun
a style that challenges traditional dramatic conventions and instead focuses on the sensory and emotional experience of the audience
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in-yer-face theater
/ɪnjɚfˈeɪs θˈiəɾɚ/
noun
a confrontational style of British theater known for its shocking subject matter, explicit language, and graphic content
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grand guignol
/ɡɹˈænd ɡɪɡnˈɑːl/
noun
a style of French theater that originated in the late 19th century and is known for its use of graphic horror, violence, and gore, often combined with humor and satire
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nativity play
/nɐtˈɪvɪɾi plˈeɪ/
noun
a play recreating the story of the birth of Jesus Christ, performed by children at Christmas
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improvisational theater
/ˌɪmpɹəvəzˈeɪʃənəl θˈiəɾɚ/
noun
a form of theater in which everything is created spontaneously by the performers, without a script or pre-planned storyline
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physical theater
/fˈɪzɪkəl θˈiəɾɚ/
noun
a style of theater that emphasizes the use of the body, movement, and nonverbal communication as the primary means of storytelling and expression
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bouffon
/bˈuːfən/
noun
a style of physical theater that satirizes social and political issues through exaggerated, grotesque performances and audience interaction
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Harlequinade
/hˈɑːɹlɪkwˌɪneɪd/
noun
a traditional theatrical genre that originated in Italy and features the character of Harlequin as the main protagonist in a comedy of love and mistaken identity
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Bunraku
/bʌnɹˈɑːkuː/
noun
a traditional form of Japanese puppet theater that features intricately crafted puppets, live musicians, and narrators who tell stories of love, tragedy, and historical events
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street theater
/stɹˈiːt θˈiəɾɚ/
noun
a type of theater that takes place in public spaces, often featuring political or social themes and aimed at engaging audiences who may not typically attend traditional theater
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immersive theater
/ɪmˈɜːsɪv θˈiəɾɚ/
noun
a type of theater that seeks to immerse the audience in the world of the play, often featuring site-specific performances and interactive elements
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tragedy
/ˈtɹædʒədi/
noun
a play with sad events, especially one that the main character dies at the end
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interactive theater
/ˌɪntɚɹˈæktɪv θˈiəɾɚ/
noun
a type of theater that invites audience participation and engagement, blurring the boundaries between performers and spectators
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epic theater
/ˈɛpɪk θˈiəɾɚ/
noun
a type of theater that seeks to provoke social and political change, often featuring theatrical devices that distance the audience from the action
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tragicomedy
/tɹˈædʒɪkˌɑːmədi/
noun
a dramatic piece that has both tragic and comic elements
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musical theater
/mjˈuːzɪkəl θˈiəɾɚ/
noun
a play or film whose action and dialogue is interspersed with singing and dancing
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absurdism
/ɐbsˈɜːdɪzəm/
noun
a type of theater characterized by the senselessness and meaninglessness of existence, often featuring plots that defy logic and language
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surrealism
/sɝˈiəˌɫɪzəm/, /sɝˈiɫɪzəm/
noun
a type of theater that explores the irrational and subconscious, often featuring dreamlike or bizarre elements
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expressionism
/ɪksˈpɹɛʃəˌnɪzəm/
noun
a theatrical style characterized by exaggeration, distortion, and symbolism, often used to explore complex psychological states and emotions
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naturalism
/ˈnætʃɝəˌɫɪzəm/, /ˈnætʃɹəˌɫɪzəm/
noun
a style of theater that attempts to recreate reality as closely as possible, often featuring realistic sets and props, and exploring themes of social injustice
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melodrama
/ˈmɛɫəˌdɹɑmə/
noun
a type of theater characterized by exaggerated emotions and simplistic morality, often featuring stock characters and featuring music to heighten the emotional impact
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Restoration theater
/ɹˌɛstɚɹˈeɪʃən θˈiəɾɚ/
noun
a form of theater that emerged in England during the Restoration period, featuring comedies of manners and bawdy humor
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Elizabethan theater
/ɪlˈɪzɐbˌɛθən θˈiəɾɚ/
noun
a type of theater that emerged in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, characterized by plays that combined tragedy, comedy, and history, and featuring prominent playwrights such as William Shakespeare
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Medieval theater
/mˈɛdɪˌiːvəl θˈiəɾɚ/
noun
a form of theater that developed in Europe during the Middle Ages, often performed in churches or on traveling carts, and featuring morality plays and miracle plays
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playback theater
/plˈeɪbæk θˈiəɾɚ/
noun
a type of theater in which performers invite members of the audience to share personal stories, which are then re-enacted on stage
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site-specific theater
/sˈaɪtspəsˈɪfɪk θˈiəɾɚ/
noun
a type of theater that is created for and performed in a specific location, often outside of traditional theater spaces
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devised theater
/dɪvˈaɪzd θˈiəɾɚ/
noun
a type of theater in which performers work collaboratively to create a new piece of theatre, often without a pre-existing script
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verbatim theater
/vɜːbˈeɪɾᵻm θˈiəɾɚ/
noun
a type of theater that uses the actual words spoken by people interviewed on a particular subject as the basis for a script, often dealing with contemporary social and political issues
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physical comedy
/fˈɪzɪkəl kˈɑːmədi/
noun
a comedic performance that uses exaggerated body movements and physical actions for humor, often involving slapstick and visual gags
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political theater
/pəlˈɪɾɪkəl θˈiəɾɚ/
noun
type of theater that focuses on political themes and issues, often aimed at advocating social change or critiquing the status quo
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Ancient Greek theater
/ˈeɪnʃənt ɡɹˈiːk θˈiəɾɚ/
noun
a theatrical tradition that emerged in ancient Greece featuring plays that explored themes of tragedy and comedy, often performed in amphitheaters
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drama
/ˈdɹɑmə/
noun
a genre of literature, film, or television that deals with serious or emotional themes, often involving conflicts and tensions between characters
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