Sotie

(also sottie), a comic satirical play popular in 15th- and 16th-century France. Soties developed from medieval parodies. They were created and performed by amateur theatrical groups, the best known of which was the Enfants Sans Souci (Carefree Children) in Paris. Soties, which served as a unique means of criticizing the feudal elite, were prohibited in the late 16th century.