It was developed from several forms of Traditional theatre from different regions, it is still staged in the same old crude way without bothering much for a convenient dais or for improved stage equipment. The women character mostly played by the men itself and Yakshagana is restricted to stage drama. It is a result of slow evolution of drawing the attention of people from ritual theatre, temple arts, secular arts, from royal courts and artists from several hundred years.    

[Yakshagana is in simple classified into categories such as folk, classical or rural. It is more varied and dynamic than most dance forms.

Variation and Types: (seven types)

Yakshagana is broadly into several types:

• Moodalopaya Yakshagana; includes eastern areas of Karnataka (such as Channarayapattna and Arsikere Taluks of the Hassan District), Nagamangala Taluk of the Mandya District, Turuvekere Taluk of the Tumkur District, Hiriyuru, Challakere of Chitradurga District and North Karnataka.

• Paduvlopaya Yakshagana comprises the western parts of extended Karnataka (including Kasaragod Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada).

• Tenkutittu (includes areas Kasaragod (Kerala), Mangalore District, Udupi, Sampaaje, Sulliya, Puttur, Bantwala, Belthangady, Karkala, etc.).

• Badagutittu (Udupi to Kundapura area, Uttara Kannada district).

• Badabadagutittu/Uttara Kannadatittu (extreme north parts of Uttara Kannada).