Drama and Theatre Terminology

Vocabulary flashcards covering essential drama and theatre concepts, narrative elements, dialogue techniques, and visual/aural components from the lecture notes.

Playwright

An author who writes plays.

Act

A major division of a play that contains multiple scenes and marks shifts in time or place.

Scene

A subdivision of an act defined by a change in setting, time, or characters on stage.

Staging

The overall arrangement and presentation of a play, including casting, direction, props, lighting, sound, and set design.

Fourth wall

The imaginary barrier between audience and performers; broken when actors address the audience directly.

Dramatic irony

When the audience knows information the characters do not, creating tension or humor.

Chorus

A group (or single narrator) that comments on the play’s action, often providing exposition or a community voice.

Mise-en-scène

All visual elements placed on stage—set, lighting, proxemics, and costumes.

Mise-en-abyme

A play-within-a-play or mirrored scene that reflects the larger narrative.

Setting

The immediate physical environment where the action occurs (e.g., room, street, or stage location).

Atmosphere

The mood or feeling created by setting, design, and other sensory elements.

Characterisation

The creation of characters, including protagonist, antagonist, foil, archetypal characters, and techniques like dialogue or soliloquy.

Protagonist

The central character in a play.

Antagonist

The character who opposes the protagonist.

Foil

A character who contrasts another, highlighting that character’s traits.

Archetype

A recurring character model such as the tragic hero or villain.

Conflict

The driving force in drama, and creates tension and propels the narrative; can be internal or external

Internal conflict

A character’s struggle within themselves over desires, beliefs, or emotions.

External conflict

A struggle between a character and another character, society, or environment.

Plot structure

A linear structure which most plays follow, and traditionally contain 5 stages that are characterised by the rise and fall of narrative tension (expositions, complication, rising action, climax, denouement.) Some modern plays can deviate from this structure, and use fragmented or circular lots to reflect themes like chaos or inevitability. Techniques like flashbacks or time shifts can further enrich the structure.

Exposition

The opening portion of a plot that provides background information.

Complication

The initial conflict that disrupts the story’s equilibrium.

Rising action

Events that intensify conflict and build toward the climax.

Climax

The highest point of tension where the central conflict peaks.

Denouement

The resolution phase where conflicts are settled and tension subsides.

Dialogue

Verbal exchanges between 2 or more characters that reveal relationships, emotions and motives.

Aside

A brief remark directly to the audience unheard by other characters on stage.

Soliloquy

A speech by a character alone on stage that reveals inner thoughts and feelings.

Monologue

A lengthy speech by one character heard by others on stage. Often expresses a complete thought or shares a story.

Unison (delivery)

Two or more performers speaking the same lines simultaneously for dramatic effect.

Overlapping dialogue

Characters speak over one another (either interruption or speaking simultaneously), creating realism, urgency, or tension by mimicking real life conversaitons.

Pacing

The speed at which dialogue is delivered.

Pause

An intentional silence that shapes rhythm and emotional tone. Together with pacing, they influence the rhythm and emotional tone of a scene.

Volume

The loudness or softness of a voice.

Intonation

The rise and fall of vocal pitch conveying mood or nuance.

Tone (in dialogue)

The emotional attitude expressed in speech (e.g., frustrated, hopeful).

Register

The level of formality or informality in language reflecting social context.

Vernacular/Dialect

Regional or cultural speech patterns indicating a character’s background.

Spectacle

The visual and sensory elements that captivate an audience, including set, costumes, and movement.

Stage directions

Playwright’s instructions detailing visual, aural, and performance elements.

Set design

The physical environment on stage—backdrops, furniture, structures—that establishes setting.

Body language

Actors’ gestures, posture, and facial expressions conveying emotion and dynamics.

Lighting

The use of illumination to create mood or direct audience focus.

Props

Objects used on stage to support action or symbolize ideas.

Costume

Clothing and accessories that reveal character traits and context.

Proxemics

The spatial positioning of actors, indicating power relationships and emotional connections.

Music (in theatre)

Use of music to build tension, set atmosphere, and guide emotional response.

Sound effects

Recorded or artificial sounds that enhance realism, mood, or offstage events.

Motif

A recurring element in a play that is used to develop the central theme of play.

Atmosphere

overall mood that is created a scene

Modes of communication and what they mean

Linguistic: Communication through spoken or written words.

Audio: Communication through sounds other than speech.

Visual: Communication through what the audience sees on stage.

Gestural: Communication through body language and movement.

Spatial: How space is used to convey meaning.