A-level Drama Terminology

The quality of the sound produced in a venue and influenced by its size and shape

A charcter in a play whose function is to oppose or block the main character (protagonist)

A perfect example of a certain type of character

Used interchangeably with ‘mood’ and signifying the mood or ambience of a scne

The space where the audience sits or stands when listening to or wathing a performance

a small studio space where the ‘stage’ area is defined by black drapes or ‘black legs’

The precise planning of how the actors will move about the stage

a naturalistic set, depicting a room created with three continuous walls with working doors and windows, the fourth wall is the division between the actors and audience

a piece of action or interplay between characters that is not scripted but added usually to create a comic effect

an exaggerated style of playing; a performance styles usually found in comedies or melodrama

an agent for change

a purgation of emotions; in greek tragedy, specifically the purging of pity and fear

what makes a character behave as they do

a group of actors, performing in unison who mediate between the action and the audience

the highest point of a drama after which the action falls away into the resolution

in artistic terms, a couple or group of people who work together on a piece of art, drama or literature

in design terms a range of colours used in a production for costume and/or set

a traditional italian comic style which includes slapstick humour and stock characters that emerged in the 16th century

tradtional ways of doing things

a piece of drama that is created out of an existing piece of art and/or staging elements

usually a director’s vision of a play in production which includes all staging elements

the basic principles behind design techniques

a play conducted through or based on a debate between two opposing viewpoints

sounds that emanate from the action on the stage

set or costume items that are deliberately ‘aged’ to look worn

classical greek theatre technology whereby a wheeled platform can be used on stage to display, for example, a dead body

a group of performers (and/or designers), who work together on a piece of drama in a capacity of ‘equals’

political drama; episodic in nature, aimed at communicating a message to the audience

an art form which explores the world through a subjective vision with no attempt to achieve realism

a comedic genre involving ludicrous situations which become increasingly ludicrous as the play proceeds; often includes slapstick routines

the imaginary ‘wall’ between actors and audience in proscenium arch style theatre

the manner in which a character walks

a specific ‘species’ of drama, for example, tragedy, comedy, farce

a performance style which embodies a social attitude

metal cut-out shapes places into a lantern to project a shape, pattern or image on stage

in greek tragedy, the ‘pride’ of the protagonist

to create drama spontaneously with no reference to a script

set pieces of cemic business in commedia works; often including acrobatics

a discontented character who has a grudge against an individual or society

the dominant emotional tone or temper of a scene on stage

a type of drama with its origins in the 19th century which presented characters as being formed by heredity or environment

the speed at which lines are spoken or movement is made

refers to the exact height and depth of a sound

drama with a political stance or message

where the audience follow the actors around the theatrical setting

the arch that frames the opening between the stage and the audience

the ‘first actor’ in greek classical drama; the main charcter in a work of literature

the faithful representation of life in drama and other literature revolves

a large circular are of the stage that may be rotated as part of the action or to reveal new settings

the playwrights description of characters, setting or costumes as well as some indication of exits and entrances and suggestions for the delivery of some lines or reactions to unfolding events

any machinery installed to facillitate set changes or ‘flying’ of characters

the way on which a character stands

the Odes delivered by the chorus in greek tragedy

the rapid exchange of dialogue, derived from greek tragedy

a character who is immediately recognisable as a sterotype, for example, the Old Miser, the Young Lover

The meaning behind the lines

A theatrical movement in which concrete symbols represent aspects of a character’s inner life or personality

a theatre configuration in which the stage is urrounded by the audience with aisles to allow for entrances and exits of the actors

a term applied to drama in which all facets of production and performance are included; offering a ‘total’ effect, both visual and auditory for the audience

the moment of cross-over between one scene and another

a relocation in time or locale of the action of the play

where the piece is performed

rehearsals in preparations for performances that are produced in less than full performance conditions