Elements of
Drama
Drama
A story that is intended
to be performed for an
audience, either on
stage or before a
camera. You may see
dramas on television, at
the movies, in videos,
and on the stage.
The Monsters Are
Due on Maple Street
is a teleplay that was
shown on television.
A Christmas Carol
has been adapted
as a stage play.
Script
The special form in which drama is
written.
It differs from the dialogue in a
short story in that the lines are
written out for the characters to
speak rather than being written
with quotation marks and tag lines.
Short
Story
Drama
“It’s the monster! It’s the
monster!” Tommy shouted in fright.
“We may need this,” Don stated
holding up his shotgun.
“A shotgun?” Steve questioned as
he pulled the gun out of Don’s hand.
Tommy (shouting, frightened). It’s the
monster! It’s the monster!
(Don Martin joins them, carrying a
shotgun. He holds it up.)
Don. We may need this.
Steve. A shotgun? (He pulls it out of
Don’s hand.)
Plot
As in short stories,
the plot of a drama
is a sequence of
related events.
 The plot begins with exposition.
 Then it moves through the rising
action in which there is a series
of complications in the conflict.
 The climax is the point of highest
tension or the turning point of the
plot.
 It is followed by the falling action
or resolution.
Scene
A section presenting
events that occur in
one place at one time.
Act
A major section of a
play made up of more
than one scene.
Cast of Characters
The major and minor
characters are listed at
the beginning of the
script. The cast of
characters often includes
a short description next to
each character’s name.
Cast of Characters
Sometimes a narrator
sets the scene for the
drama and comments on
what happens.
Stage Directions
Instructions for the director, the
actors, and the stage crew.
They are usually printed in italic
type and enclosed in parentheses.
 Stage directions tell actors
how to speak and move.
 They describe the scenery,
items on the stage that create
the setting.
 They also describe the props,
which are the objects the
actors use during the play.
 Sometimes they make suggestions
for lighting and sound.
 Stage directions will refer to
special areas of the stage.
wings
wings
(off stage)
upstage
right
stage
right
downstage
right
upstage
center
center
downstage
center
upstage
left
(off stage)
stage
left
downstage
left
orchestra pit
audience