The very young open cluster NGC 6383 centered on the O-star binary HD 159176 is an interesting place for studying the impact of early-type stars with strong radiation fields and powerful winds on the formation processes of low-mass stars. To investigate this process, it is necessary to determine the characteristics (age, presence, or absence of circumstellar material) of the population of low-mass pre-main-sequence (PMS) stars in the cluster. We obtained deep U B V Rc Ic H{alpha} photometric data of the entire cluster as well as medium-resolution optical spectroscopy of a subsample of X-ray selected objects. Our spectroscopic data reveal only very weak H{alpha} emission lines in a few X-ray selected PMS candidates. We photometrically identify a number of H-{alpha} emission candidates but their cluster membership is uncertain. We find that the fainter objects in the field of view have a wide range of extinction (up to A_V_=20), one X-ray selected OB star having A_V_~8. Our investigation uncovers a population of PMS stars in NGC 6383 that are probably coeval with HD 159176. In addition, we detect a population of reddened objects that are probably located at different depths within the natal molecular cloud of the cluster. Finally, we identify a rather complex spatial distribution of H{alpha} emitters, which is probably indicative of a severe contamination by foreground and background stars.