in a certain society, generally referring to the post-Renaissance eras. Drama – Epic theatre – Experimental theatre – Fantasy – Grand Guignol – Historical theatre – Improvisational theatre – often comedic, and sometimes poignant or dramatic productions where actors/improvisers use improvisational acting techniques to perform spontaneously. In-yer-face theatre – a term for drama that emerged in Great Britain in the 1990s to describe work by young playwrights who present vulgar, shocking, and confrontational material on stage as a means of involving and affecting their audiences. Mainstream theatre – Morality play – Musical theatre – Natya – Pantomime – Physical theatre – any mode of performance that pursues storytelling or drama through primarily and secondarily physical and mental means. Political theatre – Popular theatre – Postdramatic theatre – an experiential avant-garde style of theatre privileging performative aesthetic over drama and the written text. Puppetry – Radio drama – Reader's theatre – a style of theatre in which the actors do not memorize their lines. Rather, they either go through their blocking holding scripts and reading off their lines, or else sit/stand together on a stage and read through the script together. Rock opera – Theatre for development – a type of community-based or interactive theatre practice that aims to promote civic dialogue and engagement. Theatre for Young Audiences Theatre of the Oppressed – a collection of theatrical forms developed by Augusto Boal in the 1970s which aim to create interactions between the audience and performers as a means of promoting social and political change. Theatre of the Absurd – a post–World War II genre of absurdist dramas written primarily by a number of European playwrights in the late 1950s, exploring the idea of what happens when human existence has no meaning and all communication breaks down. Tragedy – a style of theatre based on human suffering that evokes an accompanying catharsis. Tragicomedy – Vanguard-style theater – Styles of theatre There are a variety of theatrical styles used in theatre and drama. These include: Absurdism – presents a perspective that all human attempts at significance are illogical. Ultimate truth is chaos with little certainty. There is no necessity that need drive us. Expressionism – anti-realistic in seeing appearance as distorted and the truth lying within man. The outward appearance on stage can be distorted and unrealistic to portray an eternal truth. Melodrama – sentimental drama with musical underscoring, often with an unlikely