Year 7 Drama Key Terminology

Flashcards for Year 7 Drama, covering key terminology from Summer 1, Spring 2, Autumn 2, and Autumn 1.

Amphitheaters

Open-air theaters with tiered seating built in a semi-circle around the main stage, holding over 20,000 people.

Tragedy

Serious plays with a moral lesson, often about a mythical hero meeting his doom due to pride.

Comedy

Light-hearted plays that told stories of everyday life and often made fun of Greek celebrities and politicians.

Chorus

A group of performers near the front of the stage that would chant or sing together during the play.

Greek Playwrights

Famous Greek playwrights of tragedies including Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides, and comedies like Aristophanes.

Thou

You (Subject)

Thee

You (Object)

'Tis

It is

Ere

Before

Thy

Your

Thine

Yours

Marry

By (the virgin) Mary

Thyself

Yourself

Withal

With

Hast

Have

Begone

Disappear

Hath

Has

Forsworn

Falsely swear

Dost

Do

Doth

Does

Woo

Win over one's love

Didst

Did

Anon

Soon/Shortly/Presently

Art

Are

Lest

Unless/or else

Ye

You (Formal)

Fain

Gladly

Hence

Away from here

Fie

An exclamation of disgust

Thence

From there

Hark

Listen!

Hie

Hurry

Ho!

Hey!

Hither

To here

Hitherto

Up till now.

Mark

Pay attention to

Prithee

Polite way of asking something

Hitherward

In that direction

Thither

To that place

Sirrah

Like "Sir" for inferiors

Savey

Sassy/Cheeky

Foe

Enemy

Whither

To which place/for which purpose

Somewhither

Somewhere

Rapport/Chemistry

Essential for creating believable and engaging performances; helps you connect with actors, characters, and audience.

Monologue

A speech presented by a single character, often to express thoughts aloud or address another character/audience.

Stock Characters

A fictional character based on common social or literary stereotypes. Pantomimes have a hero and villain.

Exaggeration

Representation of something as more extreme or dramatic, involving larger movements and over-the-top vocal expression.

Direct address

When an actor makes eye contact with someone in the audience and speaks to them, creating a personal connection.

Slapstick comedy

A style of physical comedy with chases, exaggerated movements, silly activities, and simple practical jokes.

Facial Expressions

Conveys emotion through the eyes, mouth, and eyebrows, telling us about the character and their reactions.

Gesture

The way people communicate with their hands or other body parts to show a character's emotions and personality.

Body Language

Posture and stance that convey a character's feelings or personality.

Voice

Communicates the age, temperament, personality, and status of a character; projection is vital for audience understanding.

Proxemics

How close or near you are to others on stage, communicating meaning; also about positioning on stage for visibility.

Thought Track

Where a character reveals their innermost thoughts and feelings to the audience.

Role Play

Involves taking part in a performance with speech to show a character and story.

Hotseating

When an actor sits in the 'hot-seat' and answers questions in character to help them understand the role.

Still Image

A frozen picture which communicates meaning using space, levels, body language, and facial expression.

Marking the moment

Highlighting a moment for dramatic effect using still images, slow motion, thought tracks, and technical elements.

Narration

Informing the audience of events taking place, either separate from the action or as a character in the scene.

Atmosphere

The mood or feeling created in a performance.