pya zat

Pya zat is a form of Burmese drama that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It developed from earlier court dramas, or zat pwe, which were based on myth and legend. Following the British conquest of Burma, court drama ceased, and pya zat emerged as a more popular form staged by professionals in public theaters.

This new style of drama blended royalty and commoners, incorporated humor, and added songs to appeal to urban audiences. Hundreds of pya zat works were published. Contemporary performances in Myanmar often include pya zat as a classic number, preserving elements of old court music and dance.1