This short glossary explains genre identifications used in this guide. The definitions may help the play-seeker to know enough about a given play to decide whether to pursue investigation. Many identifying terms supplied by authors or catalogers are idiosyncratic rather than common jargon in theatre, still they contribute to the investigator's search.
Genre is a synonym for type or kind.
It groups various literary works by form, technique, or subject matter into types or categories. The term, often loosely used, reflects numerous principles and kinds of literature. Traditionally, genres include the tragic, comedic, epic, lyric, pastoral. Critics frequently regard genre distinctions as useful descriptive devices albeit arbitrary ones. This can range from music to visual art to, most specifically, film and video.