Metatheatre is a form of theatre that self-consciously addresses the nature of theatre itself. It often breaks the fourth wall, allowing characters to acknowledge they are in a play, which can create a sense of irony or humor. This technique invites the audience to reflect on the act of storytelling and the conventions of performance. Examples of metatheatre can be found in works by playwrights like William Shakespeare and Tom Stoppard. In Shakespeare's plays, characters sometimes comment on their roles or the play's events, while Stoppard's works, such as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, explore the blurred lines between reality and fiction.