The article investigates origins, development of Lehrstück (learning drama) as exemplified in Bertolt Brecht's works. Lehrstück is a kind of a political and pedagogical art for non-professional audience. These plays challenged "the routine theater" and pursued agitational and educational goals of art. Lehrstück transformed passive reception of art and became a foundation for future epic drama. The major concept of Lehrstück is that of a "learning-play". Lehrstück is viewed as a dynamic genre, not as a "conventional" theatrical form. They distinguish a certain developmental pattern for this genre: didactic play of experimental character → didactic play with features of parable → didactic play focusing on analytical position of the recipient → learning play → didactic play with components of epic and dialectical drama.