Translation guide
A playwright is a person who writes plays. In Japanese, the most common and natural term is 劇作家, but other words exist for specific contexts like scriptwriters or classical dramatists.
The most common, neutral term for a person who writes plays for the stage.
The standard word for playwright. It is neutral and widely understood.
He is a famous playwright.
She is attracting attention as a new playwright.
More general term for scriptwriter, including for TV, film, and sometimes stage. Can be used for playwright but is broader.
That scriptwriter also writes stage scripts.
Specifically for writers of traditional Japanese drama like Noh, Kyogen, or Kabuki.
A more literary or academic term for a dramatist, often used for classical or serious drama.
Shakespeare is a great dramatist.
In the context of traditional Japanese theater (Noh, Kyogen, Kabuki), 作者 can refer to the playwright, especially when the author is unknown or the focus is on the work itself.
劇作家 specifically means a writer of stage plays. 脚本家 is a broader term for scriptwriter, covering film, TV, and sometimes stage. If you want to emphasize that someone writes for the theater, use 劇作家. If the context is clear, 脚本家 can also be used for stage scripts.
He is a film scriptwriter, but also works as a playwright.
この能の作者は世阿弥とされている。
The playwright of this Noh play is said to be Zeami.