Drama GCSE Revision

Pitch

How HIGH or LOW the voice sounds

Pace

The SPEED at which lines are spoken

Tone

The emotional quality of the voice

Volume

How LOUD or QUIET the voice is

Emphasis

Stress placed on specific to show meaning or importance

Pause

A deliberate break in speech to cause effect

Gesture

Movement of the hands or arms to express meaning

Posture

How the body is held when standing or sitting

Gait

The way a character walks

Facial expression

EMOTION shown through the FACE

Eye contact

WHERE and HOW a character looks at others

Levels

Use of HEIGHT to show status or emotion

Proxemics

Use of space and distance between characters

Status

A character’s power or importance in a moment

Subtext

The hidden meaning behind a character’s words

Intonation

Variation in pitch to show emotion or meaning

Articulation

How clearly words are pronounced

Dynamics

Changes in energy or intensity in performance

Physicality

How an actor uses their whole body to show character

Given Circumstances

The facts about the character’s world that shape their behaviour.

Blocking

Planned movement on the stage

Fade

Light gradually increasing or decreasing.

Blackout

Sudden complete darkness

Colour wash

A broad spread of coloured light across the stage.

Stanislavski

Naturalism, objectives, emotion memory.

Brecht

Alienation, direct address, breaking the fourth wall.