List of playwrights

This is a list of notable playwrights. See also Literature; Drama; List of playwrights by nationality and date of birth; Lists of authors.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Contents: 

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z
• See also

A

Ab–An

• George Francis Abbott (1887–1995, United States)
• Catherine Obianuju Acholonu (1951–2014, Nigeria)
• Kjeld Abell (1901–1961, Denmark)
• Paul Ableman (1927–2006, England)
• Marcel Achard (1899–1974, France)
• Herbert Achternbusch (1938–2022, Germany)
• J. R. Ackerley (1896–1967, England)
• Rodney Ackland (1908–1991, England)
• Adam de la Halle (c. 1237 – c. 1288, France)
• Arthur Adamov (1908–1970, France)
• Arthur Henry Adams (1872–1936, New Zealand/Australia)
• Francis Adams (1862–1893, England)
• Marion Adams-Acton (1846–1928, Scotland)
• Joseph Addison (1672–1719, England)
• George Ade (1866–1944, United States)
• Mirza Adeeb (1914–1999, Pakistan)
• David Adjmi (born 1973, United States)
• Aeschylus (c. 525–456 BCE, Ancient Greece)
• Max Afford (1906–1954, Australia)
• Aleksandr Nikolayevich Afinogenov (1904–1941, Russia)
• Agathon (c. 448 – c. 400 BCE, Athens)
• Bola Agbaje (born c. 1981, England)
• Ama Ata Aidoo (1940–2023, Gold Coast, now Ghana)
• George L. Aiken (1830–1876, United States)
• Ayad Akhtar (born 1970, United States)
• Zoë Akins (1886–1958, United States)
• Vasily Pavlovich Aksyonov (1932–2009, Russia/Soviet Union)
• Juan Ruiz de Alarcón (c. 1581–1639, New Spain, now Mexico)
• Edward Albee (1928–2016, United States)
• Rafael Alberti (1902–1999, Spain)
• James Albery (1838–1889, England)
• Vasile Alecsandri (1821–1890, Romania)
• Grace Alexander (1872–1951, United States)
• Vittorio Alfieri (1749–1803, Italy)
• William Alfred (1922–1999, United States)
• Jay Presson Allen (1922–2006, United States)
• Jim Allen (1926–1999, England)
• Woody Allen (born Allan Stewart Konigsberg 1935, United States)
• Viscount of Almeida Garrett (1799–1854, Portugal)
• Robert Altman (1925–2006, United States)
• Alejandro Rodriguez Alvarez (1903–1965, Spain)
• Serafin and Joaquin Alvarez Quintero (1871–1938 and 1873–1944, Spain)
• Mark Ambient (1860–1937, England)
• Franco Ambriz (living, Brooklyn, New York)
• Angelo Ambrogini {redirect to Angelo Poliziano}
• Freddie Anderson (1922–2001, Ireland/Scotland)
• Jane Anderson (born c. 1954, United States)
• Maxwell Anderson (1888–1959, United States)
• Robert W. Anderson (1917–2009, United States)
• Stefan Andres (1906–1970, Germany)
• Leonid Andreyev (1871–1919, Russia)
• Lucius Livius Andronicus (c. 284 – c. 205 BCE, Ancient Rome)
• Maya Angelou (1928–2014, United States)
• Innokenty Fyodorovich Annensky (1856–1909, Russia)
• Jean Anouilh (1910–1987, France)
• S. Ansky (1863–1920, Russia) in Russian and Yiddish
• Ludwig Anzengruber (1839–1889, Austria)

Ap–Ay

• Guillaume Apollinaire (1880–1918, France)
• Jacob Appel (born 1973, United States)
• Manuel José Arce (1787–1847, Federal Republic of Central America)
• William Archibald (1917–1970) (United States)
• Jane Arden (director) (1927–1982)
• John Arden (1930–2012, England)
• Reinaldo Arenas (1943–1990, Cuba)
• Pietro Aretino (1492–1556, Italy)
• Ludovico Ariosto (1474–1533, Italy)
• Aristophanes (c. 446–385 BCE, Ancient Greece)
• Reginald Arkell (1881–1959, England)
• Michael Arlen (1895–1956, England)
• Roberto Arlt (1900–1942, Argentina)
• Robert Armin (c. 1563–1615, England)
• Simon Armitage (born 1963, England)
• Georges Arnaud (1917–1987, France)
• Carlos Arniches (1866–1943, Spain)
• Fernando Arrabal (born 1932, Spain)
• Francisco Arriví (1915–2007, Puerto Rico)
• Jorge Arroyo (born 1959, Costa Rica)
• Antón Arrufat (1935–2023, Cuba)
• Antonin Artaud (1896–1948, France)
• Sholem Asch (1880–1957, Poland/United States) in Yiddish
• Oscar Asche (1871–1936, Australia)
• Werner Aspenström (1918–1997, Sweden)
• Marie Aspioti (1909–2000, Corfu)
• Leilah Assunção (born 1943, Brazil)
• Aubignac {redirect to François Hédelin, abbé d'Aubignac}
• David Auburn (born 1969)
• Jacques Audiberti (1899–1965, France)
• Émile Augier (1820–1889, France)
• Alois Außerer (1876–1950, Austria)
• Arkady Averchenko (1881–1925, Russia/Czechoslovakia)
• George Axelrod (1922–2003, United States)
• Rachel Axler (living, United States)
• Alan Ayckbourn (born 1939, England)
• Marcel Aymé (1902–1967, France)
• Jakob Ayrer (c. 1543–1605 or 1625, Germany)
• Leslie Ayvazian (living, United States)

B

Ba–Be

• Georges Baal (György Balassa, 1938–2013, Hungary/France)
• Isaak Emmanuilovich Babel (1894–1941, Russia), in Russian and Yiddish
• Ingeborg Bachmann (1926–1973, Austria)
• Phanuel Bacon (1700–1783, England)
• Enid Bagnold (1889–1981, England)
• Hermann Bahr (1863–1934, Austria)
• Paul Bailey (1937–2024, England)
• Annie Baker (born 1981, United States)
• George Pierce Baker (1866–1935, United States)
• John Roman Baker (born 1944, England)
• John Lloyd Balderston (1889–1954, United States)
• James Baldwin (1924–1987, United States)
• John Bale (1495–1563, England)
• Honoré de Balzac (1799–1850, France)
• Banabhatta (7th century CE, India, in Sanskrit)
• Francisco Antonio Bances y López-Candamo (1662–1704, Spain)
• Théodore de Banville (1823–1891, France)
• John Banks (c. 1650–1706, England)
• Imamu Amiri Baraka (1934–2014, United States)
• Maurice Baring (1874–1945, England)
• Howard Barker (born 1946, England)
• James Nelson Barker (1784–1858, United States)
• Meredydd Barker (living, Wales) in Welsh and English
• Ernst Barlach (1870–1938, Germany)
• Peter Barnes (1931–2004, England)
• Jeff Baron (living, United States)
• J. M. Barrie (1860–1937, Scotland)
• Desmond Barry (born 1954, Wales) in English
• Philip Barry (1896–1949, United States)
• Mike Bartlett (born 1980, England)
• Gabriel Barylli (born 1957, Austria)
• Peter Basch (1921–2004, Germany/United States)
• Ada Lee Bascom (unknown – 1928, United States)
• Todd Bash (born 1965, United States)
• Henri Bataille (1872–1922, France)
• Wolfgang Bauer (1941–2005, Austria)
• L. Frank Baum (1856–1919, United States)
• Terry Baum (born 1946, United States)
• Clifford Bax (1886–1962, England)
• Peter Bayley (1778–1823, England)
• Thomas Haynes Bayly (1797–1839, England)
• Richard Bean (born 1956, England)
• Pierre de Beaumarchais (1732–1799, France)
• Francis Beaumont (1584/1585–1616, England)
• Jim Beaver (born 1950, United States)
• Samuel Beazley (1786–1851, England)
• Ulrich Becher (1910–1990, Germany)
• Jürgen Becker (born 1959, Germany)
• Jurek Becker (1937–1997, Poland/Germany)
• Francis Beckett (born 1945, England)
• Samuel Beckett (1906–1989, Ireland) in English and French
• Henry Becque (1837–1899, France)
• Richard Beer-Hofmann (1866–1945, Austria)
• George Beeby (1869–1942, Australia)
• Chad Beguelin (born 1969, United States)
• Brendan Behan (1923–1964, Ireland)
• Aphra Behn (1640–1689, England)
• S. N. Behrman (1893–1973, United States)
• David Belasco (1853–1931, United States)
• T. James Belich (pseudonym: Colorado Tolston) (born 1976, United States)
• Florence Bell (1851–1930, England)
• Mary Hayley Bell (1911–2005, England)
• Luis de Belmonte y Bermúdez (c. 1590 – c. 1650, Spain)
• Jacinto Benavente (1866–1954, Spain)
• Victoria Benedictsson (1850–1888, Sweden)
• Sem Benelli (1877–1949, Italy)
• Ramvriksh Benipuri (1902–1968, India, in Hindi)
• Gottfried Benn (1886–1956, Germany)
• Alan Bennett (born 1934, England)
• Arnold Bennett (1867–1931, England)
• Angelo Beolco (1502–1542, Italy)
• Hjalmar Bergman (1883–1931, Sweden)
• Ingmar Bergman (1918–2007, Sweden)
• Reginald Berkeley (1890–1935, England)
• Steven Berkoff (born 1937, England)
• Alois Berla (1826–1896, Austria)
• Tess Berry-Hart (1978, England)
• Jean-Jacques Bernard (1888–1972, France)
• Tristan Bernard (1866–1947, France)
• William Bayle Bernard (1807–1875, England)
• Thomas Bernhard (1931–1989, Austria)
• Henri Bernstein (1876–1953, France)
• Rudolph Besier (1878–1942, England)
• György Bessenyei (1747–1811, Hungary)
• Eva Best (1851–1925, United States)
• Ugo Betti (1892–1953, Italy)
• Bahram Beyzai (born 1938, Iran)

Bi–By

• Bernardo Dovizio da Bibbiena (1470–1520, Italy)
• Isaac Bickerstaffe (1735–1812, Ireland)
• Sieur de Bigot {redirect to Jean Palaprat}
• François Billetdoux (1927–1991, France)
• André Birabeau (1890–1974, France)
• Caroline Bird (born 1986, England)
• Robert Montgomery Bird (1806–1854, United States)
• Lajos Bíró (1880–1948, Hungary/England)
• Alexandre Bisson (1848–1912, France)
• Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson (1832–1910, Norway)
• Lewis Black (born 1948, United States)
• Helen Blakeman (born 1971, England)
• August Blanche (1811–1868, Sweden)
• Lee Blessing (born 1949, United States)
• Dharamvir Bharati (1926–1997, India) in Hindi
• Suessa Baldridge Blaine (1860-1932, United States)
• Marc Blitzstein (1905–1964, United States)
• Alexander Blok (1880–1921, Russia)
• James Boaden (1762–1839, England)
• Augusto Boal (1931–2009, Brazil)
• Janka Boga (1886–1963, Hungary)
• Eric Bogosian (born 1953, United States)
• George H. Boker (1823–1890, United States)
• Robert Bolt (1924–1995, England)
• Louise Bombardier (born 1953, Canada)
• Valentino Bompiani (1898–1992, Italy)
• Edward Bond (1934–2024, England)
• Leslie Bonnet (1902–1985, Wales)
• Massimo Bontempelli (1878–1960, Italy)
• Clare Boothe (1903–1987, United States)
• Wolfgang Borchert (1921–1947, Germany)
• Péter Bornemisza (c. 1535 – 1584, Hungary)
• Dion Boucicault (1820/1822–1890, Ireland/United States)
• Édouard Bourdet (1887–1945, France)
• Lucien Bourjeily (living, Lebanon)
• Edmé Boursault (1638–1701, France)
• John Griffith Bowen (1924–2019, India/England)
• Charles Boyle (1674–1731, England)
• Roger Boyle (1621–1679, Ireland/England)
• William Boyle (1853–1923, Ireland)
• Oskar Braaten (1881–1931, Norway)
• Roberto Bracco (1861–1943, Italy)
• Vitaliano Brancati (1907–1954, Italy)
• Barbarina Brand (1768–1854, England)
• Hannah Brand (1754–1821, England)
• George Brant (living, United States)
• Thomas Brasch (1945–2001, England/Germany)
• Volker Braun (born 1939, Germany)
• Bertolt Brecht (1898–1956, Germany)
• Gerbrand Adriaensz Bredero (1585–1618, Dutch Republic)
• Howard Brenton (born 1942, England)
• Manuel Bretón de los Herreros (1796–1873, Spain)
• James Bridie (1888–1951, Scotland)
• Eugène Brieux (1858–1932, France)
• Anna Beecroft Briggs (1860s-1949, Canada/US)
• Harold Brighouse (1882–1958, England)
• Hermann Broch (1886–1951, Austria-Hungary/Austria)
• Max Brod (1884–1968) (Austria-Hungary/Czechoslovakia/Israel) in German
• Richard Brome (c. 1590–1652/1653, England)
• Arnolt Bronnen (1895–1959, Austria)
• Peter Brook (1925–2022, England)
• Kent R. Brown (living, United States)
• Robert Browning (1812–1889, England)
• Ferdinand Bruckner (1891–1958, Austria)
• Christine Brückner (1921–1996, Germany)
• David-Augustin de Brueys (1640–1723, France)
• Giordano Bruno (1548–1600, Italy)
• Georg Büchner (1813–1837, Germany)
• Leicester Silk Buckingham (1825–1867, England)
• Duke of Buckingham (1628–1687, England)
• Antonio Buero Vallejo (1916–2000, Spain)
• Mikhail Bulgakov (1891–1940, Russia)
• Edward Bullins (1935–2021, United States)
• Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–1873, England)
• John Burgoyne (1722–1792, England)
• Frances Burney (Frances, Mme d'Arblay, 1752–1840, England)
• Frances Burney (1776–1828, England)
• Sophia Burrell (1753–1802, England)
• Leo Butler (born 1974, England)
• Jez Butterworth (born 1969, England)
• George Gordon Byron (1788–1824, England)
• Henry James Byron (1835–1884, England)

C

• Gaston de Caillavet (1869–1915, France)
• Hall Caine (1853–1931, England)
• Pedro Calderón de la Barca (1600–1681, Spain)
• Sheila Callaghan (born 1973, United States)
• Callias (5th century BCE, Ancient Greece)
• Richard Cameron (born 1948, England)
• Marc Camoletti (1923–2003, France)
• Bartley Campbell (1843–1888, United States)
• David Campton (1924–2006, England)
• Albert Camus (1913–1961, France)
• Hall Caine (1853–1931, Isle of Man)
• Elias Canetti (1905–1994, Bulgaria/England) in German
• José de Cañizares (1676–1750, Spain)
• Denis Cannan (1919–2011, England)
• Cao Yu (1910–1996, China)
• Karel Čapek (1890–1938, Austria-Hungary/Czechoslovakia) in Czech
• Luigi Capuana (1839–1915, Italy)
• Alfred Capus (1858–1922, France)
• Ion Luca Caragiale (1852–1912, Romania)
• Emilio Carballido (1925–2008, Mexico)
• Louis Carette {redirect to Félicien Marceau}
• Henry Carey (1687–1743, England)
• Annibale Caro (1507–1566, Italy)
• Harriet Frances Carpenter (1868/75 – 1956, United States)
• Paul Vincent Carroll (1900–1968, Ireland/Scotland)
• R. C. Carton (1853–1928, England)
• Jim Cartwright (born 1958, England)
• William Cartwright (1611–1643, England)
• Elizabeth Cary (1585–1639, England)
• John Caryll (1625–1711, England)
• Alejandro Casona (1903–1965, Spain)
• Guillén de Castro y Bellvís (1569–1631, Spain)
• Jane Cavendish (1621–1669, England)
• Margaret Cavendish (1623–1673, England)
• Susanna Centlivre (c. 1667–1723, England)
• Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616, Spain)
• Linda Chambers (born 1954, United States)
• George Chapman (c. 1560–1634, England)
• Katharine Hopkins Chapman (1870/72/73-1930, United States)
• Charlotte Charke (1713–1760, England)
• Mary Coyle Chase (1907–1981, United States)
• Paddy Chayefsky (1923–1981, United States)
• Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860–1904, Russia)
• Matilde Cherner (1833-1880, Spain)
• Andrew Cherry (1762–1812, Ireland)
• William Rufus Chetwood (died 1766, England/Ireland)
• Luigi Chiarelli (1880–1947, Italy)
• Chikamatsu Monzaemon (1653–1725, Japan)
• Jerome Chodorov (1911–2004, United States)
• Agatha Christie (1890–1976, England)
• Eugenia Chuprina (born 1971, Ukraine)
• Caryl Churchill (born 1938, England)
• Colley Cibber (1671–1757, England)
• Giovanni Battista Cini (c. 1525–1586, Italy)
• Henry Savile Clarke (1841–1893, England)
• Roy Clarke (born 1930, England)
• John Clavell (1601–1643, England)
• Paul Claudel (1868–1955, France)
• Dick Clement (born 1937, England)
• Rick Cleveland (living, United States)
• Lucy Clifford (1846–1929, England)
• Kitty Clive (1711–1785, England)
• Aston Cockayne (1608–1684, England)
• Catharine Trotter Cockburn (1679–1749, England)
• Jean Cocteau (1889–1963, France)
• Antonio Coello y Ochoa (1611–1652, Spain)
• George M. Cohan (1878–1942, United States)
• Catrin Collier (born 1948, Wales) in English
• George Colman the Elder (1732–1794, England)
• John Colton (1889–1946, United States/England)
• Padraic Colum (1881–1972, Ireland/United States)
• Rosina Conde (born 1954, Mexico)
• Pat Condell (born 1949, Ireland/England)
• William Congreve (1670–1729, England)
• Richard Conlon (born 1965, England)
• Marc Connelly (1890–1980, United States)
• Tony Connor (born 1930, England)
• Robert Taylor Conrad (1810–1858, United States)
• Michael Cook (1933–1994, Canada)
• Thomas Cooke (1703–1756, England)
• Ray Cooney (born 1932, England)
• Jacques Copeau (1879–1949, France)
• François Coppée (1842–1908, France)
• Simon Corble (living, England)
• Pierre Corneille (1606–1684, France)
• Thomas Corneille (1625–1709, France)
• Joe Corrie (1894–1968, Scotland)
• Jorge Ignacio Cortiñas (United States)
• Pietro Cossa (1830–1881, Italy)
• Georges Courteline (1858–1929, France)
• Noël Coward (1899–1973, England)
• Hannah Cowley (1743–1809, England)
• Louis O. Coxe (1918–1993, United States)
• Elizabeth, Princess Berkeley (1750–1828, England)
• Henry Thornton Craven (1818–1905, England)
• Prosper Jolyot de Crébillon (1674–1762, France)
• Martin Crimp (born 1956, England)
• Michael Cristofer (born 1945, United States)
• Francis de Croisset (1877–1937, France)
• Fernand Crommelynck (1885–1970, Belgium/France) in French
• A. J. Cronin (1896–1981, Scotland)
• A. F. Cross (1863–1940, England)
• Rachel Crothers (1878–1958, United States)
• Russel Crouse (1893–1966, United States)
• Catherine Crowe (1803–1876, England)
• Mart Crowley (1935–2020, United States)
• John Crowne (1641–1712, England)
• Nilo Cruz (born 1960, Cuba/United States) in English
• Ramón de la Cruz (1731–1794, Spain)
• Gergely Csíky (1842–1891, Hungary)
• Franz Theodor Csokor (1885–1969, Austria)
• Álvaro Cubillo de Aragón (1596–1661, Spain)
• Juan de la Cueva (c. 1550–1610, Spain)
• Tom Cullen (born 1985, Wales/England) in English
• Richard Cumberland (1732–1811, England)
• E. E. Cummings (1894–1962, United States)
• François de Curel (1854–1928, France)

D

• Robert Daborne (1580?-1628) England)
• Stig Dagerman (1923–1954, Sweden)
• Andrew Dallmeyer (1945–2017, Scotland)
• Augustin Daly (1838–1899, United States)
• Clemence Dane (1888–1965, England)
• George Landen Dann (1904–1977, Australia)
• Florent Carton Dancourt (1661–1725, France)
• Clemence Dane (1888–1965, England)
• Sarah Daniels (born 1956, England)
• Gabriele d'Annunzio (1863–1938, Italy)
• Bill Dare (living, England)
• Florence Henrietta Darwin (1864–1920, England)
• Alphonse Daudet (1840–1897, France)
• William Davenant (1606–1668, England)
• Robert Davenport (fl. 1623–1639, England)
• James Kitchener Davies (1902–1952, Wales) in Welsh
• Robertson Davies (1913–1995, Canada)
• Jack Davis (1917–2000, Australia)
• Ossie Davis (1917–2005, United States)
• Owen Davis (1874–1956, United States)
• Roxann Dawson (born 1958, United States)
• Frederic Lansing Day (1886–1982) (United States)
• April De Angelis (born c. 1960, England)
• Swadesh Deepak (born 1942, India) in Hindi
• Eduardo De Filippo (1900–1984, Italy)
• Paul Dehn (1912–1976, England)
• Nalini Prava Deka (1944–2014, India)
• Thomas Dekker (c. 1572–1632, England)
• Shelagh Delaney (1939–2011, England)
• Casimir-Jean-François Delavigne (1793–1843, France)
• Barbu Delavrancea (1858–1918, Romania)
• R. F. Delderfield (1912–1972, England)
• Giambattista della Porta (1535–1615, Italy)
• Merrill Denison (1893–1975, Canada)
• Catalina D'Erzel (1897-1950, Mexico)
• Lucien Descaves (1861–1949, France)
• Jean Desmarets (1595–1676, France)
• Sugathapala de Silva (1928–2002), Ceylon/Sri Lanka) in Sinhala
• Philippe Néricault Destouches (1680–1754, France)
• Jacques Deval (1894–1972, France)
• Edward de Vere (1550–1604, England)
• Laxmi Prasad Devkota (1909–1959, Nepal)
• Juan Bautista Diamante (1625–1687, Spain)
• Lydia R. Diamond (born 1969, United States)
• Charles Dibdin (1745–1814, England)
• Thomas John Dibdin (1771–1841, England)
• Joaquín Dicenta (1863–1917, Spain)
• Denis Diderot (1713–1784, France)
• Steven Dietz (born 1958, United States)
• Salvatore Di Giacomo (1860–1934, Italy)
• Joe DiPietro (born 1961, United States)
• Robert Dodsley (1703–1764, England)
• Lodovico Dolce (1508 – c. 1568, Italy)
• Maurice Donnay (1859–1945, France)
• Ariel Dorfman (born 1942, Argentina/Chile/United States) in Spanish and English
• Earl of Dorset {redirect to Thomas Sackville, 1st Earl of Dorset}
• Tankred Dorst (1925–2017, Germany)
• Louise Doughty (born 1963, England)
• William Missouri Downs (born 1965, United States)
• Stuart Draper (born 1967, England)
• Michael Drayton (1563–1631, England)
• John Drinkwater (1882–1937, England)
• William Price Drury (1861–1949, England)
• John Dryden (1631–1700, England)
• Marin Držić (1508–1587, Republic of Ragusa) in Croatian
• Marcel Dubé (1930–2016, Canada) in French
• Charles Rivière Dufresny (1654–1724, France)
• Edmund Duggan (playwright) (1862–1938, Australia)
• Roger Martin du Gard {redirect to Martin du Gard, Roger}
• Ashley Dukes (1885–1959, England)
• Alexandre Dumas, père (1802–1870, France)
• D Underbelly (born late 1990s, United States)
• Govind Purushottam Deshpande (1938–2013, India) in Marathi
• Andrea Dunbar (1961–1990, England)
• William Duncombe (1690–1769, England)
• William Dunlap (1766–1839, United States)
• Antony Dunn (born 1973, England)
• Marc Dunn (born 1978, United States)
• Nell Dunn (born 1936, England)
• Philip Dunning (1891–1957, United States)
• Lord Dunsany (1878–1957, England/Ireland)
• Christopher Durang (1949–2024, United States)
• Marguerite Duras (1914–1996, France)
• Thomas d'Urfey (1653–1723, England)
• Friedrich Dürrenmatt (1921–1990, Switzerland) in German
• Pierre du Ryer (1606–1658, France)
• Jean Dutourd (1920–2011, France)
• Utpal Dutta (living, India) in Assamese
• Henri Duvernois (1875–1937, France)

E

• Mary Emma Ebsworth (1794–1881, England)
• José Echegaray (1832–1916, Spain)
• David Edgar (born 1948, England)
• Margaret Edson (born 1961, United States)
• Richard Edwardes (1525–1566, England)
• Dic Edwards (born 1953, Wales) in English
• Erik Ehn (living, United States)
• Günter Eich (1907–1972, Germany
• Baron Joseph von Eichendorff (1788–1857, Germany)
• Jesse Eisenberg (born 1983, United States)
• Menna Elfyn (born 1952, Wales) in Welsh
• T. S. Eliot (1888–1965, United States/England)
• Juan del Encina (c. 1469–1529/1530, Spain)
• Will Eno (born 1965, United States)
• Per Olov Enquist (1934–2020, Sweden)
• Nick Enright (1950–2003, Australia)
• Eve Ensler (born 1953, United States)
• Hans Magnus Enzensberger (1929–2022, Germany)
• Epicharmus of Kos (late 6th – early 5th c. BCE, Ancient Greece)
• Paul Ernst (1866–1933, Germany)
• St. John Ervine (1883–1971, Ireland/England)
• Louis Esson (1878–1943, Australia)
• George Etherege (c. 1635–1691, England)
• Solomon Ettinger (1800/1803–1856, Poland) in Hebrew and Yiddish
• Eupolis (c. 446–411 BCE, Ancient Greece)
• Euripides (c. 485 – c. 406 BCE, Ancient Greece)
• Don Evans (1938–2003, United States)
• Charles Evered 1964-, United States)

F

• Diego Fabbri (1911–1980, Italy)
• Émile Fabre (1869–1955, France)
• Jan Fabricius (1871-1964, Netherlands)
• Mildmay Fane, 2nd Earl of Westmorland (1602–1666, England)
• Herbert Farjeon (1887–1945, England)
• Joseph Jefferson Farjeon (1883–1955, England)
• George Farquhar (1677/1678–1707, England)
• Simon Farquhar (living, Scotland)
• Florence Farr (1860–1917, England)
• Graham Farrow (living, England)
• Rainer Werner Fassbinder (1945–1982, Germany)
• René Fauchois (1882–1962, France)
• Jules Feiffer (1929–2025, United States)
• Elaine Feinstein (1930–2019, England)
• Edna Ferber (1887–1968, United States)
• Lucas Fernández (1474–1542, Spain)
• Leandro Fernández de Moratín (1760–1828, Spain)
• Nicolás Fernández de Moratín (1737–1780, Spain)
• Paolo Ferrari (1822–1889, Italy)
• Lion Feuchtwanger (1884–1958, Germany)
• Georges Feydeau (1862–1921, France)
• Nathan Field (1587–1620, England)
• Henry Fielding (1707–1754, England)
• Joseph Fields (1895–1966, United States)
• Graeme Fife (living, England)
• Alex Finlayson (born 1951, United States)
• Ronald Firbank (1886–1926, England)
• Clyde Fitch (1865–1909, United States)
• George Fitzmaurice (1877–1963, Ireland)
• Gustave Flaubert (1821–1880, France)
• Martin Flavin (1883–1967, United States)
• Harvey Fierstein (born 1952, United States)
• Tim Firth (born 1964, England)
• Peter Flannery (born 1951, England)
• James Elroy Flecker (1884–1915, England)
• Richard Flecknoe (c. 1600–1678, England)
• Marieluise Fleißer (1901–1974, Germany)
• Justin Fleming (born 1953, Australia)
• Robert de Flers (1872–1927, France)
• John Fletcher (1579–1625, England)
• Lucille Fletcher (1912–2000, United States)
• Dario Fo (1926–2016, Italy)
• Ladislas Fodor (1898–1978, Hungary/West Germany)
• Antonio Fogazzaro (1842–1911, Italy)
• Denis Ivanovich Fonvizin (1744/1745–1792, Russia)
• Horton Foote (1916–2009, United States)
• Samuel Foote (1720–1777, England)
• John Ford (c. 1586 – post-1639, England)
• María Irene Fornés (1930–2018, Cuba/United States) in English
• Lars Forssell (1928–2007, Sweden)
• Ugo Foscolo (1778–1827, Italy)
• Jon Fosse (born 1959, Norway)
• Norm Foster (born 1949, Canada)
• Paul Foster (1937–2021, United States)
• Paul Foucher (1810–1875, France)
• Tim Fountain (born 1967, England)
• Charles J. Fourie (born 1965, South Africa)
• Amy Fox (born 1975, United States)
• Bruno Frank (1887–1945, Germany)
• Leonhard Frank (1882–1961, Germany/United States)
• Ian Fraser (South Africa/United States)
• Michael Frayn (born 1933, England)
• Aleksander Fredro (1793–1876, Poland)
• David French (1939–2010, Canada)
• Gustav Freytag (1816–1895, Germany)
• Erich Fried (1921–1988, Austria/England) in German
• Gertrude Friedberg (died 1989, United States)
• Bruce Jay Friedman (1930–2020, United States)
• Brian Friel (1929–2015, Ireland)
• Ketti Frings (1909–1981, United States)
• Max Frisch (1911–1991, Switzerland)
• Christopher Fry (1907–2005, England)
• Franz Fühmann (1922–1984, Germany)
• Athol Fugard (1932–2025, South Africa)
• Ulpian Fulwell (1545/1546–1584/1586, England)
• Milán Füst (1888–1967, Hungary)

G

• Jeremy Gable (born 1982, United States)
• Ram Ganesh Gadkari (1885–1919, India)
• Zona Gale (1874–1938, United States)
• Ferdinando Galiani (1728–1787, Italy)
• John Galsworthy (1867–1933, England)
• Vicente Antonio García de la Huerta (1734–1787, Spain)
• Antonio García Gutiérrez (1813–1884, Spain)
• Federico García Lorca (1898–1936, Spain)
• David Garnett (1892–1981, England)
• Robert Garnier (1544–1590, France)
• David Garrick (1717–1779, England)
• George Gascoigne (1535–1577, England)
• Armand Gatti (1924–2017, France)
• Natalie Gaupp (born 1967, United States)
• John Gay (1685–1732, England)
• Michael V. Gazzo (1923–1995, United States)
• Larry Gelbart (1928–2009, United States)
• Jack Gelber (1932–2003, United States)
• Gratien Gélinas (1909–1999, Canada) in French
• Pam Gems (1925–2011, England)
• Jean Genet (1910–1986, France)
• Joel Gersmann (1942–2005, United States)
• Alice Gerstenberg (1885–1972, United States)
• Franz Xaver Karl Gewey (1764–1819, Austria)
• Michel de Ghelderode (1898–1962, Belgium) in French
• Henri Ghéon (1875–1944, France)
• Paolo Giacometti (1816–1882, Italy)
• Giuseppe Giacosa (1847–1906, Italy)
• Donato Giannotti (1492–1573, Italy)
• Melissa James Gibson (living, Canada)
• William Gibson (1914–2018, United States)
• W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911, England)
• D. B. Gilles (living, United States)
• William Gillette (1855–1937, United States)
• Frank D. Gilroy (1925–2015, United States)
• Antonio Gil y Zárate (1793–1861, Spain)
• Gina Gionfriddo (living, United States)
• Jean Giono (1895–1970, France)
• Giambattista Giraldi Cinthio (1504–1573, Italy)
• Giovanni Giraud (1776–1834, Italy)
• Jean Giraudoux (1882–1944, France)
• Lesley Glaister (born 1956, England/Scotland)
• Susan Glaspell (1876–1948, United States)
• Josef Alois Gleich (1772–1841, Austria)
• Richard Glover (1712–1785, England)
• Janusz Głowacki (1938–2007, Poland/United States) in Polish and English
• John Godber (born 1956, England)
• Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832, Germany)
• Nikolay Vasilyevich Gogol (1809–1852, Russia)
• Abraham Haim Lipke Goldfaden (1840–1908) (Russia/United States) in Hebrew and Yiddish
• James Goldman (1927–1998, United States)
• Carlo Goldoni (1707–1793, Italy)
• Oliver Goldsmith (1728/1730–1774, Ireland/England)
• Witold Gombrowicz (1904–1969, Poland/Argentina) in Polish
• Prince Gomolvilas (born 1972, United States)
• Jeff Goode (living, United States)
• Jules Eckert Goodman (1876–1962, United States)
• Frances Goodrich (1890–1984, United States)
• Jacob Gordin (1853–1909, Ukraine/United States) in Russian and Yiddish
• Ruth Gordon (1896–1985, United States)
• Charles Gordone (1925–1995, United States)
• Catherine Gore (1798–1861, England)
• Maxim Gorky (1868–1936, Russia)
• Stephen Gosson (1554–1624, England)
• Staffan Göthe (born 1944, Sweden)
• Abraham Dov Ber Gottlober (1811–1899, Russia) in Hebrew and Yiddish
• Johann Christoph Gottsched (1700–1766, Germany)
• Olympe de Gouges (1748–1793, France)
• Carlo Gozzi (1720–1806, Italy)
• Christian Dietrich Grabbe (1801–1836, Germany)
• Ed Graczyk (born 1941/1942, United States)
• Ray Harrison Graham (born 1962, England)
• David Marshall Grant (born 1955, United States)
• George Granville, 1st Baron Lansdowne (1666–1735, England)
• Harley Granville-Barker (1877–1946, England)
• Jörg Graser (born 1951, Germany)
• Günter Grass (1927–2015, Germany)
• Jacinto Grau Delgado (1877–1958, Spain)
• Nicholas Stuart Gray (1922–1981, England)
• Simon Gray (1936–2008, England)
• Antonio Francesco Grazzini (1503–1584, Italy)
• Julien Green (1900–1998, France/United States) in French
• Paul Eliot Green (1894–1981, United States)
• Richard Greenberg (1958–2025, United States)
• Frances Nimmo Greene (1867-1937, United States)
• Graham Greene (1904–1991, England)
• Robert Greene (1558–1592, England)
• Elana Greenfield (United States)
• David Greenspan (born 1956, United States)
• Lady Augusta Gregory (1852–1932) (Ireland)
• Martin Greif (1839–1911, Germany)
• David Greig (Scotland)
• Jean-Baptiste Louis Gresset (1709–1777, France)
• Tom Griffin (1946–2018, United States)
• Trevor Griffiths (1935–2024, England)
• Franz Grillparzer (1791–1872, Austria)
• Angelina Grimké (1805-1879, United States)
• David Grimm (born 1965, United States)
• Rinne Groff (living, United States)
• Philip Gross (born 1952, England)
• Sydney Grundy (1848–1914, England)
• Andreas Gryphius (1616–1664, Germany)
• John Guare (born 1938, United States)
• Stephen Adly Guirgis (born 1965, United States)
• Sacha Guitry (1885–1957, France)
• Yesim Ozsoy Gulan (born 1972, Turkey)
• Sachin Gupta (born 1978, India) in Hindi
• Danai Gurira (born 1978, United States)
• A. R. Gurney (1930–2017, United States)
• Karl Ferdinand Gutzkow (1811–1878, Germany)

H

• Peter Hacks (1928–2003, Germany)
• Ruth Hale (1908–2003, United States)
• Roger Hall (born 1939, New Zealand)
• Steven Hall (born 1975, England)
• Adam de la Halle (c. 1237 – c. 1288, France)
• Cicely Hamilton (1872–1952, England)
• Cosmo Hamilton (1871–1942, England)
• Patrick Hamilton (1904–1962, England)
• Christopher Hampton (born 1946, England)
• W. David Hancock (living, United States)
• Peter Handke (born 1942, Germany)
• William Hanley (1931–2012, United States)
• Lorraine Hansberry (1930–1965, United States)
• Haseena Moin (1941–2021, Pakistan)
• Ernst Hardt (1876–1947, Germany)
• Edward W. Hardy (born 1992, United States)
• David Hare (born 1947, England)
• Johann Hari (born 1979, Scotland)
• Tony Harrison (born 1937, England)
• Moss Hart (1904–1961, United States)
• Bharatendu Harishchandra (1850–1885, India)
• Jonathan Harvey (born 1968, England)
• Ronald Harwood (1934–2020, South Africa/England)
• Walter Hasenclever (1890–1940, Germany)
• Christopher Hassall (1912–1963, England)
• Michael Hastings (1938–2011, England)
• Jeffrey Hatcher (living, United States)
• Richard Hathwaye (died 1604, England)
• Gerhart Hauptmann (1862–1946, Germany)
• Václav Havel (1936–2011, Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic)
• Walter Hawkesworth (c. 1573–1606, England)
• Gyula Háy (Stefan Faber, 1900–1975, Hungary/Switzerland)
• William Hayley (1745–1820, England)
• Eliza Haywood (c. 1693–1756, England)
• Colin Henry Hazlewood (1823–1875, England)
• Friedrich Hebbel (1813–1863, Germany)
• Peter Hedges (born 1962, United States)
• Herman Heijermans (1864-1924, Netherlands)
• Lillian Hellman (1905–1984, United States)
• Beth Henley (born 1952, United States)
• Karl Friedrich Hensler (1759–1825, Austria)
• John Abraham Heraud (1799–1887, England)
• A. P. Herbert (1890–1971, England)
• George Herman (1928–2019, United States)
• Amy Herzog (living, United States)
• Nigel Heseltine (1916–1995, England)
• Dorothy Hewett (1923–2002, Australia)
• John Heywood (c. 1497 – c. 1580, England)
• Thomas Heywood (early 1570s – 1641, England)
• Robert Hichens (1864–1950, England)
• Tomson Highway (born 1951, Canada)
• Wolfgang Hildesheimer (1916–1991, Germany)
• Aaron Hill (1685–1750, England)
• John Hippisley (1696–1748, England)
• Robert Hitchcock (died 1809, England)
• Prince Hoare (1755–1834, England)
• John Oliver Hobbes (Pearl Craigie, 1867–1906, United States/England)
• Rolf Hochhuth (1931–2020, Germany)
• Fritz Hochwälder (1911–1986, Austria)
• Hugo von Hofmannsthal (1874–1929, Austria)
• Ludvig Holberg (1684–1754, Norway)
• Thomas Holcroft (1745–1809, England)
• Margaret Holford (1757–1834, England)
• Arthur Holitscher (1869–1941, Hungary/Germany)
• Michael Hollinger (born 1962, United States)
• Constance Holme (1880–1955, England)
• Rupert Holmes (born David Goldstein, 1947, England/United States)
• Tom Hood (1835–1874, England)
• CJ Hopkins (born 1961, United States)
• Frederick William Horner (1854–1933, Wales) in English
• Roy Horniman (1874–1930, England)
• Ödön von Horváth (1901–1938, Austria-Hungary)
• Laurence Housman (1865–1959, England)
• Edward Howard (1624–1712, England)
• Frederick Howard, 5th Earl of Carlisle (1748–1825, England)
• Robert Howard (1626–1698, England)
• Sidney Howard (1891–1939, United States)
• Tina Howe (1937–2023, United States)
• Frank Howson (1952–2024, Australia)
• John-Michael Howson (born 1936, Australia)
• Hroswitha of Gandersheim (c. 935 – post-973, Germany) in Latin
• Dusty Hughes (born 1947, England)
• Langston Hughes (1902–1967, United States)
• Richard Hughes (1900–1976, England)
• Victor Hugo (1802–1885, France)
• Maureen Hunter (born 1948, Canada) in English
• Samuel D. Hunter (born 1981, United States)
• Sándor Hunyady (1890–1942, Hungary)
• Angela Huth (born 1938, England)

I

• Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906, Norway)
• Victor Ido (1869-1948, Netherlands)
• Elizabeth Inchbald (1753–1821, England)
• William Inge (1913–1973, United States)
• Thomas Ingelend (fl. 1560, England)
• Eugène Ionesco (1909–1994, Romania) in French and Romanian
• William Henry Ireland (1775–1835, England)
• David Ives (born 1950, United States)
• Naomi Iizuka (born 1965, United States)
• Branislava Ilić (born 1970, Serbia)

J

• Donald Jack (1924–2003, England/Canada)
• Luigi Jannuzzi (born 1952, United States)
• Alfred Jarry (1873–1907, France)
• Elfriede Jelinek (born 1946, Austria)
• Ann Jellicoe (1927–2017, England)
• Ida Jenbach (fl. 1920s – 1930s, Hungary/Germany)
• Jerome K. Jerome (1859–1927, England)
• Douglas William Jerrold (1803–1857, England)
• Pamela Hansford Johnson (1912–1981, England)
• Terry Johnson (born 1955, England)
• Denis Johnston (1901–1984, Ireland)
• Arthur M. Jolly (born 1969, England)
• Henry Arthur Jones (1851–1929, England)
• Patrick Jones (born 1965, Wales) in English
• Ben Jonson (1572–1637, England)
• Rajiv Joseph (born 1974, United States)
• James Joyce (1882–1941, Ireland)

K

• Georg Kaiser (1878–1945, Germany
• Kālidāsa (4th–5th c. CE, India) in Sanskrit
• Sarah Kane (1971–1999, England)
• Girish Karnad (1938–2019, India) in Kannada and English
• József Katona (1791–1830, Hungary)
• Lally Katz (born 1978, United States)
• George S. Kaufman (1889–1961, United States)
• Moisés Kaufman (born 1963, United States)
• John B. Keane (1928–2002, Ireland)
• Barrie Keeffe (1945–2019, England)
• Dennis Kelly (born 1969, England)
• Fanny Kemble (1809–1893, England)
• János Kemény (1903–1971, Romania) in Hungarian
• Adrienne Kennedy (born 1931, United States)
• Margaret Kennedy (1896–1967, England)
• James Kenney (1780–1849, England)
• William Kenrick (c. 1725–1779, England)
• Josephine Kermode (pseudonym Cushag, 1852–1937, Isle of Man)
• Joseph Kesselring (1902–1967, United States)
• Lyle Kessler (living, United States)
• Stanley Keyes (born 1948, United States)
• Henry Killigrew (1613–1700, England)
• Thomas Killigrew (1612–1683, England)
• William Killigrew (1606–1695, England)
• Thomas Kilroy (1934–2023, Ireland)
• Sidney Kingsley (1906–1995, United States)
• Julius Leopold Klein (1810–1875, Hungary/Germany) in German
• Heinrich von Kleist (1777–1811, Germany)
• Friedrich Maximilian Klinger (1752–1831, Germany)
• Václav Kliment Klicpera (1792–1859, Austria-Hungary) in Czech
• Kevin Kling (living, United States)
• Alexander Kluge (born 1932, Germany)
• Frederick Knott (1916–2002, England)
• Oskar Kokoschka (1886–1980, Austria-Hungary, England, Switzerland) in German
• Bernard-Marie Koltès (1948–1989, France)
• Harry Kondoleon (1955–1994, United States)
• Bernard Kops (1926–2024, England)
• Apollo Korzeniowski (1820–1869, Poland)
• August von Kotzebue (1761–1819, Germany)
• Zygmunt Krasiński (1812–1859, Poland)
• Karl Kraus (1874–1936, Austria)
• Helmut Krausser (born 1964, Germany)
• Franz Xaver Kroetz (born 1946, Germany)
• Nestor Kukolnik (1809–1868, Russia)
• Hanif Kureishi (born 1954, England)
• Tony Kushner (born 1956, United States)
• Kusumagraj (1912–1999, India) in Marathi
• Thomas Kyd (1558–1594, England)

L

• Neil LaBute (born 1963, United States)
• Thomas Hailes Lacy (1809–1873, England)
• Pär Lagerkvist (1891–1974, Sweden)
• Jun Lana (born 1972, Philippines)
• Robert Eyres Landor (1781–1869, England)
• Mary Lewis Langworthy (1872-1949, United States)
• Jonathan Larson (1960–1996, United States)
• Stig Larsson (born 1955, Sweden)
• Kirke La Shelle (1862–1905, United States)
• Else Lasker-Schüler (1869–1945, Germany/Palestine/Israel)
• Miklós László (1903–1973, Hungary/United States)
• Francis Lathom (1774–1832, England)
• Walter Learning (1938–2020, Canada)
• Hermine Lecomte du Noüy (1854-1915, France)
• Mary Theresa Ledóchowska (1863–1922, Austria)
• Harriet Lee (1757–1851, England)
• Kang Baek Lee (born 1947, South Korea)
• Nathaniel Lee (c. 1653–1692, England)
• Richard Nelson Lee (1806–1872, England)
• Robert E. Lee (1918–1994, United States)
• Sophia Lee (1750–1824, England)
• Mark Lemon (1809–1870, England)
• Wayne Lemon (living, United States)
• Melchior Lengyel (1880–1974, Hungary)
• Sue Lenier (born 1957, England)
• Rebecca Lenkiewicz (born 1968, England)
• Jakob Michael Reinhold Lenz (1751–1792, Russia/Livonia) in German
• Conchi León (born 1973, Mexico)
• Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729–1781, Germany
• Reinhard Lettau (1929–1996, Germany/United States)
• Tracy Letts (born 1965, United States)
• Ira Levin (1929–2007, United States)
• Caleb Lewis (born 1978, Australia)
• David Lewis (1682–1760, England)
• Leopold David Lewis (1828–1890, England)
• Saunders Lewis (1893–1985, Wales)
• Nell Leyshon (living, England)
• George Lillo (1691–1739, England)
• David Lindsay-Abaire (born 1969, United States)
• Romulus Linney (1930–2011, United States)
• Liz Lochhead (born 1947, Scotland)
• Oliver W. F. Lodge (1878–1955, England)
• Thomas Lodge (c. 1558–1625, England)
• Kenneth Lonergan (born 1962, United States)
• George William Lovell (1804–1878, England)
• Stephen Lowe (born 1947, England)
• William Lower (c. 1610–1662, England)
• Mina Loy (1882–1966, France/United States)
• Craig Lucas (born 1951, United States)
• Clare Boothe Luce (1903–1987, United States)
• Charles Ludlam (1943–1987, United States)
• Ken Ludwig (living, United States)
• Otto Ludwig (1813–1865, Germany)
• Joseph Lunn (1784–1863, England)
• John Lyly (c. 1553 or 1554–1606, England)

M

• Ewan MacColl (James Henry Miller, 1915–1989, Scotland)
• Michael MacLennan (born 1968, Canada)
• Joseph Macleod (1903–1984, England)
• Wendy MacLeod (born 1959, United States)
• George Macropedius (1487–1558, Netherlands) in Latin
• Imre Madách (1823–1864, Hungary)
• Rosie Malek-Yonan (born 1965, Iran/United States)
• Karen Malpede (living, United States)
• David Mamet (born 1947, United States)
• Henning Mankell (1948–2015, Sweden)
• Delarivier Manley (c. 1663/1670–1724, England)
• Klaus Mann (1906–1949, Germany)
• Mona Mansour (living, United States)
• Francis Marbury (1555–1611, England)
• Frank Marcus (1928–1996, England)
• William Marchant (1923–1995, United States)
• Donald Margulies (born 1954, United States)
• Pierre de Marivaux (1688–1763, France)
• Christopher Marlowe (1564–1593, England)
• Derek Marlowe (1938–1996, England)
• Anthony Marriott (1931–2014, England)
• James Henry Marriott (1799–1886, New Zealand)
• Christabel Marshall (1871–1960, England)
• John Marston (1576–1634, England)
• John Westland Marston (1819–1890, England)
• Jane Martin, pseudonym of unknown (United States)
• Steve Martin (born 1945, United States)
• Bruce Mason (1921–1982, New Zealand)
• Paul Nicholas Mason (born 1958, Canada)
• Philip Massinger (1583–1640, England)
• Mustapha Matura (1939–2019, Trinidad)
• Robin Maugham (1916–1981, England)
• W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965, England)
• Vladimir Mayakovsky (1893–1930, Russia/Soviet Union)
• Marius von Mayenburg (born 1972, Germany)
• Henry Mayhew (1812–1887, England)
• Jasper Mayne (1604–1672, England)
• Cary Mazer (living, United States)
• Dick McBride (1928–2012, United States)
• Ellen McLaughlin (born 1957, United States)
• Tarell Alvin McCraney (born 1980, United States)
• Martin McDonagh (born 1970, Ireland)
• Greg McGee (born 1950, New Zealand)
• John McGrath (1935–2002, England)
• Reginald James MacGregor (1887–1961, England)
• Frank McGuinness (born 1953, Ireland)
• Robert McLellan (1907–1985, Scotland)
• Scott McMorrow (living, United States)
• Terrence McNally (1938–2020, United States)
• Scott McPherson (1959–1992, United States)
• Mark Medoff (1940–2019, United States)
• Charles L. Mee (born 1938, United States)
• Karl Meisl (1775–1853, Austria)
• Leonard Melfi (1932–2001, United States)
• Alex Melrose (1865–1944, Australia)
• Menander (342–291 BCE, Ancient Greece)
• David Mercer (1928–1980, England)
• Thomas Meriton (born 1638, England)
• Paul Meritt (1843–1895, England)
• William Mew (1602 – c. 1669, England) in Latin
• Adam Mickiewicz (1798–1855, Poland)
• George Middleton (1880–1967, United States)
• Thomas Middleton (1580–1627, England)
• Arthur Miller (1915–2005, United States)
• James Miller (1704–1744, England)
• Nellie Burget Miller (1875-1952, United States)
• Willy Millowitsch (1909–1999, Germany)
• Henry Hart Milman (1791–1868, England)
• Jane Milmore (1955–2020, United States)
• A. A. Milne (1882–1956, England)
• Anthony Minghella (1954–2008, England)
• Octave Mirbeau (1848–1917, France)
• Meg Miroshnik (living, United States)
• Adrian Mitchell (1932–2008, England)
• Julian Mitchell (born 1935, England)
• Mary Russell Mitford (Miss Mitford, 1787–1855, England)
• Vilhelm Moberg (1898–1973, Sweden)
• Narendra Mohan (1935–2002, India) in Hindi and Punjabi
• Caroline Moir (living, England)
• Molière (1622–1673, France)
• Ferenc Molnár (1878–1952, Hungary/United States)
• Natyaguru Nurul Momen (1908–1990, Bangladesh)
• William Thomas Moncrieff (1794–1857, England)
• Thomas Sturge Moore (1870–1944, England)
• Jose Zorrilla y Moral (1817–1893, Spain)
• Charles Langbridge Morgan (1894–1958, England)
• Elaine Morgan (1920–2013, Wales)
• Peter Morgan (born 1963, England)
• Félix Morisseau-Leroy (Moriso Lewa, 1912–1998, Haiti)
• Michael Morpurgo (born 1943, England)
• Melvyn Morrow (born 1942, Australia)
• John Mortimer (1923–2009, England)
• John Maddison Morton (1811–1891, England)
• Thomas Morton (1764–1838, England)
• Tom Morton-Smith (born 1980, England)
• Tad Mosel (1922–2008, United States)
• Itamar Moses (born 1977, United States)
• Peter Anthony Motteux (1663–1718, England)
• Dimitrios Mpogris (1890–1964, Greece)
• Sławomir Mrożek (1930–2013, Poland/France)
• Clara Mulholland (1849–1934, Ireland/England)
• Heiner Müller (1929–1995, Germany)
• Brighde Mullins (living, United States)
• Anthony Munday (c. 1560–1633, England)
• Kaj Munk (1898–1944, Denmark)
• Jimmy Murphy (living, Ireland)
• Tom Murphy (1935–2018, Ireland)
• Tommy Murphy (born 1979, Australia)
• Robert Musil (1880–1942, Austria)

N

• Thomas Nabbes (1605–1641, England)
• Bill Naughton (1910–1992, England)
• John Neal (1793–1876, United States)
• Richard Nelson (born 1950, United States)
• László Németh (1901–1975, Hungary)
• Johann Nestroy (1801–1862, Austria)
• Anthony Neilson (born 1967, Scotland/England)
• Beverley Nichols (1898–1983, England)
• Peter Nichols (1927–2019, England)
• William Nicholson (born 1948, England)
• János Nyíri (1932–2002, Hungary/France)
• Jeff Noon (born 1957, England)
• Lars Norén (1944–2021, Sweden)
• Marsha Norman (born 1947, United States)
• Bruce Norris (born 1960, United States)
• Richard Norton-Taylor (born 1944, England)
• Lynn Nottage (born 1964, United States)
• Alden Nowlan (1933–1983, Canada)
• János Nyíri (1932–2002, Hungary)

O

• Dan O'Brien (born 1974, United States)
• Sean O'Brien (born 1952, England)
• Seán O'Casey (1880–1964, Ireland)
• Eugene O'Neill (1888–1953, United States)
• Gerlinde Obermeier (1942–1984, Austria)
• Thomas Odell (1681–1749, England))
• Clifford Odets (1906–1963, United States)
• Bolaji Odofin (living, Nigeria) in English
• Reggie Oliver (born 1952, England)
• Han Ong (born 1968, Philippines/United States) in English
• Onyeka (Onyeka Nubia, living, England)
• Valantina Abu Oqsa (born 1967), Palestine
• Emma Orczy (Baroness Orczy, 1865–1947, England)
• Dael Orlandersmith (living, United States)
• Joe Orton (1933–1967, England)
• John Osborne (1929–1994, England)
• Peter Oswald (born 1965, England)
• Thomas Otway (1652–1685, England)
• Gary Owen (born 1972, Wales) in English
• Rochelle Owens (born 1936, United States)
• William Henry Oxberry (1808–1852, England)
• Helen Oyeyemi (born 1984, England)

P

• Jean Palaprat (1650–1721, France)
• Morris Panych (born 1952, Canada)
• Ralph Pape (died 2016, United States)
• Suzan-Lori Parks (born 1963, United States)
• Stewart Parker (1941–1988, Northern Ireland)
• Angelo Parra (living, United States)
• Gwenlyn Parry (1932–1991, Wales) in Welsh
• John Patrick (1905–1995, United States)
• Robert Patrick (1937–2023, United States)
• Nick Payne (born 1984, England)
• George Peele (1556–1596, England)
• Borislav Pekić (1930–1992, Yugoslavia/England) in Serbian
• Charles Reece Pemberton (1790–1840, Wales/England)
• Joachim Perinet (1763–1816, Austria)
• Matthew Perry (born 1969, United States)
• Tyler Perry (born 1969, United States)
• Stephen Phillips (1864–1915, England)
• Eden Phillpotts (1862–1960, England)
• Arthur Wing Pinero (1855–1934, England)
• Harold Pinter (1930–2008, England)
• Luigi Pirandello (1867–1936, Italy)
• Mary Pix (1666–1709, England)
• James Planché (1796–1880, England)
• Alan Plater (1935–2010, England)
• Plautus (c. 254–184 BCE, Ancient Rome)
• Ulrich Plenzdorf (1934–2007, Germany)
• Isaac Pocock (1782–1835, England)
• Suman Pokhrel (born 1967, Nepal)
• Elizabeth Polack (fl. 1830s, England)
• Ernő Polgár (1954–2018, Hungary)
• Alan Pollock (born 1962, England)
• Sharon Pollock (1936–2021, Canada)
• Elizabeth Polwheele (c.1651–c.1691, England)
• John Poole (1786–1872, England)
• Cora Scott Pond Pope (1856–?, United States)
• Henry Porter (died 1599, England)
• Gordon Porterfield (living, United States)
• Suzanne Portnoy (born 1961, England)
• Dennis Potter (1935–1994, England)
• Reinaldo Povod (1960–1994, United States)
• Samuel Jackson Pratt (1749–1814, England)
• Lucy Prebble (born 1980, England)
• Otto Prechtler (1813–1881, Austria)
• Thomas Preston (1537–1598, England)
• Nancy Price (1880–1970, England)
• J. B. Priestley (1894–1984, England)
• Bryan Procter (Barry Cornwall, 1787–1874, England)
• Stanisław Przybyszewski (1868–1927, Poland)
• Alexander Pushkin (1799–1837, Russia)

Q

• Abu Khalil Qabbani (1835–1902, Syria)
• Philippe Quinault (1635–1688, France)

R

• David Rabe (born 1940, United States)
• Jean Racine (1639–1699, France)
• Akbar Radi (1939–2007, Iran)
• Ferdinand Raimund (1790–1836, Austria
• Nina Raine (living, England)
• Mohan Rakesh (1925–1972, India) in Hindi
• Adam Rapp (born 1968, United States)
• Nina Rapi (born 1962, Greece)
• John Rastell (John Rastall, c. 1475–1536, England)
• Lutz Rathenow (born 1952, Germany)
• Terence Rattigan (1911–1977, England)
• Simon Raven (1927–2001, England)
• Edward Ravenscroft (c. 1654–1707, England)
• James Reaney (1926–2008, Canada)
• Keith Reddin (born 1956, United States)
• Frederic Reynolds (1764–1841, England)
• Renée (1929–2023, New Zealand)
• Yasmina Reza (born 1959, France)
• William Barnes Rhodes (1772–1826, England)
• Alfred Bate Richards (1820–1876, England)
• Erwin Riess (1957–2023, Austria)
• Arnold Ridley (1896–1984, England)
• Philip Ridley (born 1964, England)
• Lawrence Riley (1896–1974, United States)
• Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926, Austro-Hungarian Empire/Switzerland)
• José Rivera (born 1955, Puerto Rico) in English
• Eigra Lewis Roberts (born 1939, Wales) in Welsh
• Thomas William Robertson (1829–1871, England)
• Lennox Robinson (1886–1958, Ireland)
• Rony Robinson (born 1940, England)
• David Robson (born 1966, United States)
• Isaac Rosenberg (1890–1918, England)
• Jack Rosenthal (1931–2004, England)
• Bert V. Royal (born 1977, United States)
• Hossein Rajabian (born 1984, Iran)
• Kenneth G. Ross (born 1941, Australia)
• Edmond Rostand (1868–1918, France)
• Friederike Roth (born 1948, Germany)
• Samuel Rowley (died c. 1633, England)
• William Rowley (c. 1585–1626, England)
• Gillian Rubinstein (Lian Hearn, born 1942, England/Australia)
• David Rudkin (born 1936, England)
• Paul Rudnick (born 1957, United States)
• John Ruganda (1941–2007, Uganda)
• Sarah Ruhl (born 1974, United States)
• Katherine Rundell (born 1967, England)
• Willy Russell (born 1974, England)
• Nelson Rodrigues (1912–1980, Brazil)
• Royce Ryton (1924–2009, England)

S

Sa–Se

• Suhayl Saadi (born 1961, England/Scotland)
• Hans Sachs (1494–1576, Germany)
• Nelly Sachs (1891–1970, Sweden)
• Peter Sagal (born 1965, United States)
• Bhisham Sahni (1915–2003, India) in Hindi
• Balkrishna Sama (1903–1981, Nepal)
• Tori Sampson (born 20th century, United States)
• Florencio Sánchez (1875–1910, Uruguay)
• Francesca Sanders (living, United States)
• Sally Sara (born 1971, Australia)
• William Saroyan (1908–1981, United States)
• Jean-Paul Sartre (1905–1980, France)
• Geneviève Savalette (1735–1795, France)
• Mark Scharf (born 1956, United States)
• Georges Schehadé (1905–1989, Lebanon) in French
• Robert Schenkkan (born 1953, United States)
• Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805, Germany)
• Guillermo Schmidhuber (born 1943, Mexico)
• Arno Schmidt (1914–1979, Germany)
• Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt (born 1960, Belgium/France) in French
• Arthur Schnitzler (1862–1931, Austria)
• Werner Schwab (1958–1994, Austria)
• György Schwajda (1943–2010, Hungary)
• William Matthew Scott (1893–1964, England)
• Sandra Seaton (living, United States)
• David Sedaris (born 1956, United States)
• Seneca the Younger (c. 4 BCE – CE 65, Ancient Rome) in Latin
• Ferhan Şensoy (1951–2021, Turkey)

Sg–Sr

• Anthony Shaffer (1926–2001, England)
• Peter Shaffer (1926–2016, England)
• William Shakespeare (1564–1616, England)
• Ntozake Shange (1948–2018, United States)
• John Patrick Shanley (born 1950, United States)
• Partap Sharma (1939–2011, India)
• Harriette Lucy Robinson Shattuck (1850–1937, United States)
• Lionel Shave (1888–1954, Australia)
• George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950, Ireland/England)
• Wallace Shawn (born 1943, United States)
• Rob Shearman (born 1970, England)
• Owen Sheers (born 1974, Wales) in English
• Edward Sheldon (1886–1946, United States)
• Jane Shepard (born 1958, United States)
• Sam Shepard (1943–2017, United States)
• Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751–1816, Ireland/England)
• Jonathan Marc Sherman (born 1968, United States)
• R. C. Sherriff (1896–1975, England)
• Robert E. Sherwood (1896–1955, United States)
• George Shiels (1881–1949, Ireland)
• Christopher R. Shimmin (1870–1933, Isle of Man)
• Christopher Shinn (born 1975, United States)
• Rick Shiomi (born 1947, Canada)
• Dora Adele Shoemaker (1873-1962, United States)
• Del Shores (born 1957, United States)
• Larry Shue (1946–1985, United States)
• Nicky Silver (living, United States)
• Lazarre Seymour Simckes (born 1937, United States)
• Neil Simon (1927–2018, United States)
• Eric Simonson (born 1960, United States)
• Libby Skala (1967–2019, United States)
• Bernard Slade (1930–2019, Canada)
• Juliusz Słowacki (1809–1849, Poland)
• Roy Smiles (living, England)
• Anna Deavere Smith (born 1950, United States)
• Evan Smith (living, United States)
• Amelia Solar de Claro (1836-1915, Chile)
• Sophocles (c. 497/496–406/405 BCE, Ancient Greece)
• Aaron Sorkin (born 1961, United States)
• Alfred Soultan (born 1946, Hungary/United States)
• Gabrielle Soumet (1814-1886, France)
• Wole Soyinka (born 1934, Nigeria)
• Ron Sparks (born 1977, Canada)
• Biljana Srbljanović (born 1970, Yugoslavia/Serbia)

St–Sz

• Adrian Consett Stephen (1894–1918, Australia)
• Simon Stephens (born 1971, England)
• Shelagh Stephenson (born 1955, England)
• Polly Stenham (born 1986, England)
• Christopher Stollery (living, Australia)
• Tom Stoppard (born 1937, Czechoslovakia/England)
• David Storey (1933–2017, England)
• August Stramm (1874–1915, Germany)
• John Strand (living, United States)
• Botho Strauß (born 1944, Germany)
• August Strindberg (1849–1912, Sweden)
• Sara Stridsberg (born 1972, Sweden)
• Kelly Stuart (living, United States)
• Preston Sturges (1898–1959, United States)
• Abhi Subedi (born 1945, Nepal)
• Robert B Suda (born 1978, Hungary/England)
• Patrick Süskind (born 1949, Germany)
• András Sütő (1927–2006, Romania) in Hungarian
• Alfred Sutro (1863–1933, England)
• Caridad Svich (born 1963, United States)
• Robin Swados (born 1953, United States)
• Jeffrey Sweet (born 1950, United States)
• John Millington Synge (1871–1909, Ireland)
• Dezső Szomory (Moshe Weisz, 1869–1944, Hungary)

T

• George Tabori (1914–2007, Hungary/England/United States/Germany) in English and German
• Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941, India) in English
• Habib Tanvir (1923–2009, India) in Urdu
• Jean Tardieu (1903–1995, France)
• Henry Taylor (1800–1886, England)
• Bernard J. Taylor (living, South Africa/United States)
• Samuel Taylor (1912–2000, United States)
• Telecleides (fl. 440s BCE, Ancient Greece)
• Vijay Tendulkar (1928–2008, India) in Marathi
• Terence (c. 195/185 – c. 159 BCE, Ancient Rome)
• Tian Han (1898–1968, China)
• Louie Myfanwy Thomas (1908–1968, Wales) in Welsh
• Ernest Thompson (born 1949, United States)
• Judith Thompson (born 1954, Canada)
• A. A. Thomson (1894–1968, England)
• Ludwig Tieck (1773–1853, Germany)
• Harry Tighe (1887–1946, Australia)
• Dion Titheradge (1889–1934, Australia/England/United States)
• Lily Tobias (1887–1984, Wales) in English
• Stephen Tobolowsky (born 1951, United States)
• Franz Xaver Told (1792–1849), Austria
• Ernst Toller (1893–1939, Germany)
• Francis Tolson (died 1745/1746, England)
• Colorado Tolston, pseudonym of T. James Belich (born 1976, United States)
• Zlatko Topčić (born 1955, Bosnia and Herzegovina)
• Bartolomé de Torres Naharro (c. 1485 – c. 1530, Spain/Italy)
• Miles Tredinnick (born 1955, England)
• Catherine Tregenna (living, Wales/England) in English
• Kurt Tucholsky (1890–1935, Germany)

U

• Nicholas Udall (1504–1556, England)
• Alfred Uhry (born 1936, United States)
• Rodolfo Usigli (1905–1979, Mexico)
• Ken Urban (born 1974, United States)

V

• Alfonso Vallejo (1943–2021, Spain)
• Alexander Vampilov (1937–1972, Soviet Union)
• Jaco Van Dormael (born 1957, Belgium)
• John Vanbrugh (1664–1726, England)
• John William Van Druten (1901–1957, England)
• Jean-Claude van Itallie (1936–2021, Belgium/United States)
• Billy Van Zandt (born 1957, United States)
• Johann von Vásáry (1899–1963, Hungary)
• Lope de Vega (1562–1635, Spain)
• Richard Vennar (1564–1615, England)
• Gil Vicente (c. 1465 – c. 1536, Portugal)
• Gore Vidal (1925–2012, United States)
• András Visky (born 1957, Romania) in Hungarian
• Paula Vogel (born 1951, United States)
• François-Marie Voltaire (1694–1788, France)
• Joost van den Vondel (1587-1679, Netherlands)

W

• Heinrich Leopold Wagner (1747–1779, Germany)
• Stephen Wakelam (living, England)
• Derek Walcott (1930–2017, Saint Lucia)
• Craig Walker (born 1960, Canada)
• George F. Walker (born 1947, Canada)
• Naomi Wallace (born 1960, United States)
• Martin Walser (1927–2023, Germany)
• Robert Walser (1878–1956, Switzerland) in German
• Agnes Walsh (born 1950, Canada)
• Saadallah Wannous (1941–1997, Syria)
• Anne Washburn (living, United States)
• Dale Wasserman (1914–2008, United States)
• Wendy Wasserstein (1950–2006, United States)
• Keith Waterhouse (1929–2009, England)
• John Webster (1580 – c. 1634, England)
• Frank Wedekind (1864–1918, Germany)
• Peter Weiss (1916–1982, Germany)
• Louise Welsh (born 1965, England/Scotland)
• Franz Werfel (1890–1945, Austrian Empire/Germany/United States)
• Henri van Wermeskerken (1882-1937, Netherlands)
• Timberlake Wertenbaker (born 1951, United States/England)
• Arnold Wesker (1932–2016, England)
• Patricia Wettig (born 1951, United States)
• Peter Whelan (1931–2014, England)
• John Whiting (1917–1963, England)
• Adolf von Wilbrandt (1837–1911, Germany)
• Oscar Wilde (1850–1900, Ireland/England)
• Thornton Wilder (1897–1975, United States)
• Adolfo Wilhelmy (1887–1958, Mexico)
• Emlyn Williams (1905–1987, Wales) in English
• Heathcote Williams (1941–2017, England)
• Richard Bryn Williams (1902–1981, Wales) in Welsh
• Roger Williams (born 1974. Wales) in English and Welsh
• Tennessee Williams (1911–1983, United States)
• David Williamson (born 1942, Australia)
• Arthur Wilson (1595–1652, England)
• August Wilson (1945–2005, United States)
• Laurence Wilson (born 1970, England)
• Lanford Wilson (1937–2011, United States)
• Tracey Scott Wilson (born 1966, United States)
• Leah Nanako Winkler (born 1985, Japan/United States)
• Nicholas Wright (born 1940, United Kingdom)
• Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz {Witkacy} (1885–1939, Poland)
• Karol Wojtyła {Pope John Paul II} (1920–2005, Poland)
• Charles Wood (1932–2020, Guernsey/England)
• Linda Woolverton (born 1952, United States)
• William Wycherley (c. 1641–1716, England)
• Stanisław Wyspiański (1869–1907, Poland)
• Laurence Mark Wythe (born 1974, England)

Y

• William Butler Yeats (1865–1939, Ireland)
• Benjamin Yeoh (born 1978, England)
• Chay Yew (謝耀, living, Singapore/United States)

Z

• Gabriela Zapolska (1860–1921, Poland)
• Berhanu Zerihun (1933/1934–1987, Ethiopia)
• Paul Zindel (1936–2003, United States)
• Émile Zola (1840–1902, France)
• José Zorrilla (1817–1893, Spain)
• Carl Zuckmayer (1896–1977, Germany/United States/Austria)
• Jerzy Żuławski (1874–1915, Poland)
• Stefan Zweig (1881–1942, Austria)

See also

• List of Bosnian playwrights
• List of British playwrights since 1950
• List of Canadian playwrights
• List of French playwrights
• List of German playwrights
• List of Irish dramatists
• List of Jewish American playwrights
• List of Slovenian playwrights
• List of playwrights from the United States
• List of early-modern British women playwrights