The 39 Steps: genre

Summary of Genres and Adaptaions

“The 39 Steps” is predominantly categorised as a mixture of thriller, drama and comedy.
Originaly writtien as a novel by John Buchan in 1915, it was later adapted into a variety of formats such drama, film, and radio plays, which blurred the genre lines.
“The 39 Steps” became famously known as a spy-themed thriller when Alfred Hitchcock adapted it into a film in 1935.

In the context of a stage play, the genre incorporates fast-paced dialogues, physical comedy, and slapstick humour, which lightens the heaviness of the thriller narrative.
The text incorporates a range of dramatic tension-building techniques, from cliffhanger moments to dramatic irony, typical of the thriller genre.
Comedy arises from a number of sources in the play - particularly the physical performances and fast-paced, quick-changing multiple roles played by a small number of actors.
The play also incorporates elements of romance, particularly in the developing relationship between Richard Hannay and Pamela.

In stage adaptations, “The 39 Steps” can also be seen as a farce - a specific type of comedy that involves slapstick humour, improbable situations, and high energy performances.
It is important to understand the various genres that “The 39 Steps” straddles, as these influence both the themes explored in the work and the way it is presented on stage.