closet drama

Theater has a long tradition of closet dramas, plays that were written to be read rather than staged.

Like so many Golden Age mysteries, the original novel is essentially a closet drama, one that closely observes the theatrical unities of place, time and action.

English history plays were rare; Roman history plays frequent; Senecan closet dramas continued; the Marlowean and Kydian traditions received further development.

It does not concern itself with plays, past or present, intended primarily to be read—closet drama.

Yet some closet dramas seem to want to stay in the closet.