They were followed in the 18th century by Marivaux, writer of romantic comedies, and Beaumarchais whose Barber of Seville and Marriage of Figaro later became operas. Victor Hugo's dramas were the most vigorous product of the 19th century. The exceptional dramatists of the 20th century range from Jean Anoulih, author of urbane philosophical comedies, to Jean Genet, ex-convict critic of the establishment.
In the 1960s, Eugene Ionesco from Romania and Samuel Beckett from Ireland were among the pioneers of a new genre, the "theatre of the absurd". Since then, no major playwrights have emerged but experimental work flourishes in state-subsidized theatre companies.