Fastnachtspiel (plural fastnachtspiele, English "shrovetide play") was a type of play performed on Shrove Tuesday or fastnacht during the sixteenth century as a part of pre-lenten carnivals.
Extant examples mostly originated from the city of Nuremberg (although they were performed widely) and Hans Sachs was considered the most prolific in this form.
Productions usually lacked props and only had simply scenery.
Fastnachtspiele typically used preexisting stories from ancient or medieval works which were adapted to contemporary conditions.
Playwrights like Sachs took major inspiration from the Decameron and earlier burlesque stories.