Benkei is a leading role in "Ataka," a play of Sarugaku (comical mimicry and speech performance in Heian period) and Noh, and "Kanjincho," a Kabuki play based on that Ataka.
弁慶は猿楽・能の『安宅』やそれを歌舞伎化した『勧進帳』でも主役を張っている。