Elements of Drama
PLOT or story line
Every story must have a
Beginning…
Middle…
End…
Don’t forget the conflict!!!
What’s in that story?
• Monologue
(speech by one character to
another)
• Soliloquy
(character, alone, reveals
inner thoughts and
feelings)
• Dialogue
(characters speaking to each
other)
elements of production
Set or scenery the background built on stage to establish
time & place for the audience
(may be literal or symbolic)
Costumes & makeup
These can be used to change an actor’s
posture, age, physical build, etc.
(change can be real or artistic)
Props
The smaller things actors move on
stage that add detail & authenticity
to a show
School bag
books
Sound & Lights
These can be used to establish setting, mood,
period; and build plot & character
Roles
The various characters in the play that the actors play
Stock characters in
Commedia dell’arte
The elements of performance
character
movement
vocal expression
speaking style
listening
acting
storytelling
The script
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Title
Character List
Scene Description (& sometimes a set description)
Scene or Act #
Dialogue
1. All CAPS = Character name
2. Italics = Stage Directions
3. Regular type = spoken words
JAMES – (softly) Tracy? (clears throat) Tracy? (louder,
getting braver) Tracy? Wake up, I need to tell you
something…
Theatre Spaces
Arena Stage
Proscenium Stage
Thrust stage
Basic Theatre Terms
ad-lib – creating dialogue or actions
to cover a mistake
an act (n.) – a smaller section of a
play (like a chapter)
antagonist – the person, thing, or
idea that causes conflict for the
protagonist
aside – line(s) delivered to the
audience
at rise – the moment the curtain rises,
what’s on stage
audition – an actor’s job interview
a beat (n.)- a change in topic or
feeling in a scene
blackout – the end of a scene, act,
play
blocking – the planned movement of
actors onstage
breaking character – becoming
yourself onstage rather than
your character
to cast (n.) – to place actors in specific
roles in a play
character list – the list at the start of a
play naming & describing all the
characters
climax – the high point of the plot
where the protagonist must make a
choice that determines the outcome
of the play
cold reading – (part of an audition)
when an actor is asked to perform a
script he has not been able to
prepare ahead of time
comedy – a play with a happy ending
conventions – practices characteristic
of a particular time period or region
to cross (v.) – to move from one place
to another on stage
cue – a signal for an actor or crew
member to do something in a play
Basic Theatre Terms
cue line – line of dialogue that
tells an actor or crew member
some action must be taken
denouement – the resolution or
falling action in a play (plot)
dialogue – lines spoken in a play
between 2+ characters
diction – the specific words chosen,
on purpose, by a playwright
discovered – already on stage when
the scene begins
down-stage turn – turning so your
body passes through the full-front
position (blocking)
drama – a play of serious nature
epilogue – a bit tagged on to the end
of a play to explain or excuse
exposition – the beginning of a play
used to provide background
information (plot)
falling action – the resolution or
denouement of a play (plot)
focus – the intended point of interest
on stage
fourth wall – the imaginary “wall”
between actors onstage and the
audience – like a TV screen
gesture – an action performed with
the hands, arms or head (nod)
holding for a laugh – allowing the
audience’s response to begin
dying away before continuing
intention – what your character
wants in a scene
interior monologue – the stream of
thoughts a character thinks while
he/she is onstage
monologue – a long speech by 1
character
motivation – the character’s reason
for doing or saying something
Basic Theatre Terms
objective – a character’s goal in a
specific scene
observation – studying others as
sources for your character’s voice
or movement
off book – not using a script,
memorized
on book – using a script, not
memorized
plot – what happens in a play
to project (v.) – to make your
performance audible and visible to
every audience member
protagonist – the main character
rising action – the development of
the conflict in a play (plot)
scene – a smaller division of a play
scene description – a detailed
description of the set and situation
at the start of an act or scene
stage business – activities
performed onstage as part of your
character
stage directions – the instructions
for what and how to do things in a
script (these are not spoke out
loud!)
stage crew – those members of the
show who are not actors
strike – to take down, clean up, and
put away all materials used for a
performance when it is complete
subtext – the thoughts/meanings that
underlie the actual spoken words
theme – what the play is about (an
idea)
tragedy – a play that ends unhappily
for many/most of the characters
to upstage (v.) – to draw the
attention from the indented focus
in a scene
Types of plays
Comedy
Tragedy
Any play that has a happy
ending –
A play of serious
nature, that is
generally sad
even if it isn’t funny
Types of plays – broken down…
•
•
•
•
•
•
Farce
Parody
Sentimental Comedy
Musical Comedy
Comedy of Manners
Satire
Sentimental Drama
Melodrama
Social Drama
Morality Play
Drama
Tragedy
• Theatre of the Absurd
•
•
•
•
•
•
Styles of Plays
- how the type of play is “done”
Looks like the real thing…
1. Naturalism – “slice of life,” it
is the real thing
2. Realism – theatrical
representation of the real
thing
“Reality” with meaning…
3. Expressionism – resembles
the real thing; but colors,
shapes, etc may be
exaggerated or used
symbolically to help develop
character or theme
Not even trying to be “real”…
4. Theatricalism – pure theatre,
not pretending to be anything
other than a play
Historical “Period” styles…
5. Classic or Neo-Classic – a
style consciously imitating the
Greek or Roman classics
6. Romanticism – projects the
idea of the perfectibility of
mankind, optimistic, hopeful,
focus on nature