When he joined the Stephen Joseph Theatre in the Round in 1957, Alan Ayckbourn was set on being an actor. Little did he know he would become one of England's most successful and well-respected playwrights; in fact, he would go on to become the first living playwright to be knighted since Noel Coward.

Clean, Contemporary plays, Domestic, Playful, Quirky, Witty

Tom Stoppard's intention is always to entertain, first and foremost. Though his plays are intellectually and philosophically rigorous, they're also good stories told with voluble wit. Sometimes he takes too easy a road to difficult issues in science and history, and for this he has been criticized by

Clever, Contemplative, Contemporary plays, Dense, Quirky, Sophisticated

With names like "Run for Your Wife" and "Wife Begins at Forty," Cooney's plays are ready to pratfall easily into the puddle of "take my wife, please..." humor or to lollygag about the "garters-'n-boxers" school of comedy à la Benny Hill (where nothing is funnier than a dropped pair of drawers). Ho

Clown, Commedia dell'arte, Funny, Physical force, Physical theater, Playful, Profane

16th century (renaissance) poetry, 17th century literature, Charming, Dramatic, Epic, Excessive, Grand, Pop