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 productionSet 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 bagbooks
Sound & LightsThese 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 expressionspeaking style
listeningacting
storytelling
The script1. Title2. Character List3. Scene Description (& sometimes a set description)4. Scene or Act #5. Dialogue
1. All CAPS = Character name2. Italics = Stage Directions3. 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 Termsad-lib – creating dialogue or actions
to cover a mistakean 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 interviewa beat (n.)- a change in topic or
feeling in a sceneblackout – the end of a scene, act,
playblocking – the planned movement of
actors onstagebreaking character – becoming
yourself onstage rather than your character
to cast (v.) – 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 endingconventions – practices characteristic
of a particular time period or regionto cross (v.) – to move from one place
to another on stagecue – a signal for an actor or crew
member to do something in a play
Basic Theatre Termscue 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 natureepilogue – a bit tagged on to the end
of a play to explain or excuseexposition – 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 Termsobjective – a character’s goal in a
specific sceneobservation – 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 playto project (v.) – to make your
performance audible and visible to every audience member
protagonist – the main characterrising action – the development of
the conflict in a play (plot)scene – a smaller division of a playscene 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 spoken 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 playsComedy
Any play that has a happy ending – even if it isn’t funny
Tragedy
A play of serious nature, that is generally sad
Types of plays – broken down…•
Farce
•P
arody
•S
entimental C
omedy
•M
usical Com
edy
•C
omedy of M
anners
•S
atire
•T
heatre of the Absurd
•S
entimental D
rama
•M
elodrama
•S
ocial Dram
a
•M
orality Play
•D
rama
•T
ragedy
Styles of Plays- how the type of play is “done”
Looks like the real thing…1. Naturalism – “slice of life,” it
is the real thing2. 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