Drama GCSE key terms

Actor

A person who performs in a drama or theatre production

Director

The person responsible for the creative vision and overall direction of a production

Designer

A person responsible for set, costume, lighting, or sound design

Stage Manager

The person who oversees the technical aspects and smooth running of a production

Playwright

The person who writes the script of a play

Monologue

A long speech by a single character, directed at themselves or the audience

Duologue

A scene or speech involving two characters

Dialogue

Conversations between characters in a play

Proxemics

The spatial relationship between characters on stage and what it conveys

Body Language

Non-verbal communication through movement, posture, and facial expressions

Facial Expression

How emotions are shown using the face

Gesture

Movements that express meaning, eg. pointing, waving

Tone

The quality of a voice that expresses emotion or meaning

Pitch

How high or low the voice is

Pace

The speed of speech

Volume

How loud or soft the voice is

Pause

A moment of silence used for dramatic effect

Accent

A way of speaking that indicates where a character is from

Articulation

The clarity and precision of speech

Intonation

The rise and fall of the voice when speaking

Blocking

The planned movement of actors on stage

Levels

The height at which an actor is positioned to show status or emotion

Mime

Acting without speech, using movement and gestures

Still Image

A frozen moment used to communicate meaning

Thought Tracking

Speaking a character’s inner thoughts aloud

Narration

A performer describing the action or giving background information

Breaking the Fourth Wall

When an actor directly addresses the audience

Choral Speaking

A group of actors speaking or chanting in unison

Flashback

A scene showing events from the past

Flash-forward

A scene showing future events

Cross-cutting

Alternating between two or more scenes to create contrast or connections

Slow Motion

Movement performed at a reduced speed for dramatic effect

Soundscape

Using sound effects or voices to create an atmosphere

Physical Theatre

A style of theatre that focuses on movement rather than dialogue

Naturalism

A style that aims to create a believable, realistic performance

Non-Naturalism

A performance style that does not attempt to recreate reality

Epic Theatre

A theatrical style (associated with Brecht) that encourages audience reflection rather than emotional involvement

Stanislavski

A theatre practitioner known for developing a system of naturalistic acting

Brecht

A theatre practitioner who developed Epic Theatre techniques such as breaking the fourth wall

Artaud

A theatre practitioner known for Theatre of Cruelty, which aimed to create an intense audience experience

Set Design

The creation of the performance space, including scenery and props

Lighting Design

The use of lighting to create mood, atmosphere, and focus

Sound Design

The use of sound effects, music, and amplification in a production

Costume Design

The clothing and accessories worn by performers to reflect character and setting

Props

Objects used by actors during a performance

Stage Types

Different types of stages, including proscenium arch, thrust, traverse, in-the-round, and black box

Cue

A signal for an actor or technician to take action

Dress Rehearsal

A final run-through of the performance with full costumes and technical elements

Technical Rehearsal

A run-through focusing on lighting, sound, and other technical aspects