Britannica Sources used in this answer

Which Japanese theatrical forms were associated with samurai audiences?

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bugaku performance — Japanese performing arts *Bugaku*, a court dance adapted to Japanese tastes from the dance and music of 8th-century China and Korea.

The Japanese theatrical forms most closely associated with the samurai class were Noh and kyōgen.12

By the end of the Azuchi-Momoyama period (1574–1600), Noh and kyōgen had evolved to express the gravity, discipline, and decorum of the samurai ruling class. During the subsequent Tokugawa period (1603–1867), Noh was assiduously cultivated by the samurai as a refined accomplishment, eventually becoming the exclusive theatre art of the warrior class. While commoners were generally forbidden by law from studying Noh, they were occasionally permitted to view performances during special "subscription" events.12

In contrast, other forms like Kabuki emerged as popular entertainment for the burgeoning urban commoner and merchant classes. Although Kabuki eventually incorporated themes and stories involving samurai, it was initially viewed as an art form for commoners, and it was considered improper for Kabuki actors—often referred to as "beggars of the riverbed"—to perform the exclusive, privileged art of the warrior class.12