Year 7 Drama Key Terminology

Ancient Greek Theatre

• One of the favorite forms of entertainment for the Ancient Greeks was the theatre, which began as part of a festival to the Greek god Dionysus and eventually became a major part of Greek culture.

Amphitheatres

• Some of the theatres were quite large, seating over 20,000 people.
• They were open-air theatres with tiered seating built in a semi-circle around the main stage.
• The bowl shape of the seating allowed the actors' voices to carry throughout the entire theatre.
• Actors performed in the open area at the centre of the theatre, called the orchestra.

Types of Plays

• There were two main types of plays that the Greeks performed: tragedies and comedies.
  • Tragedy: Greek tragedies were very serious plays with a moral lesson. They usually told the story of a mythical hero who would eventually meet his doom because of his pride.
  • Comedy: Comedies were more light-hearted than tragedies. They told stories of everyday life and often made fun of Greek celebrities and politicians.

Music

• Many plays were accompanied by music.
• Common instruments were the lyre (a stringed instrument) and the aulos (like a flute).
• There was also a group of performers near the front of the stage called the chorus that would chant or sing together during the play.

Actors, Costumes, and Masks

• The actors wore costumes and masks to play different characters.
• The masks had different expressions on them to help the audience understand the character.
  • Masks with large frowns were common for tragedies, while masks with big grins were used for comedies.
• The costumes were usually padded and exaggerated so they could be seen from the back seats.
• All of the actors were men; they dressed up as women when playing female characters.

Special Effects

• The Greeks used a variety of special effects to enhance their plays.
• They had ways of creating sounds such as rain, thunder, and horses hooves.
• They used cranes to lift actors up so they appeared to be flying.
• They often used a wheeled platform to roll out dead heroes onto the stage.

Famous Greek Playwrights

• The best playwrights of the day were famous celebrities in Ancient Greece.
• There were often competitions during festivals, and the playwright with the best play was presented an award.
• The most famous Greek playwrights were Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, and Aristophanes.

Shakespearean Language

• Translation of common Shakespearean words into modern English.
• Each word is provided with the translation and an example:
  • Thou: You (Subject). Example: Thou art a scoundrel!
  • Thee: You (Object). Example: I bid thee good day.
  • 'tis: it is. Example: 'Tis for nothing.
  • Ere: before. Example: She wants to speak with you ere you go to bed.
  • Thy: Your. Example: Thy pipes are leaking.
  • Thine: Yours. Example: I shall be thine forever.
  • Marry: by (the virgin) Mary. Example: Marry, sir, I am helping you.
  • Thyself: Yourself. Example: Kill thyself.
  • Withal: with. Example: I'll tell you who time ambles withal.
  • Hast: Have. Example: Thou hast ruined everything.
  • Begone: Disappear. Example: Begone, love.
  • Hath: has. Example: He hath not been here all night.
  • Forsworn: falsely swear. Example: Which can make gods forsworn?
  • Dost: Do. Example: Dost thou love me?
  • Doth: Does. Example: No, he doth not.
  • Woo: win over one's love. Example: Leave me alone to woo him.
  • Didst: Did. Example: Didst thou say something?
  • Anon: Soon/Shortly/Presently. Example: I'll be with you anon.
  • Art: Are. Example: Art thou insane?
  • Lest: unless/or else. Example: Leave the lion's den, lest he tear you to pieces.
  • Ye: You (Formal). Example: Ye are a fool.
  • Fain: gladly. Example: That murdered me. I would forget it fain.
  • Hence: Away from here. Example: I most go hence.
  • Henceforth: From now on. Example: Henceforth, I shall be king.
  • Fie: An exclamation of disgust. Example: Fie! Are you mad!
  • Thence: From there. Example: I come from thence.
  • Hark: Listen! Example: Hark! The herald angels sing!
  • Whence: Which place/what place. Example: Go back from whence you came.
  • Hie: Hurry. Example: Hie thee hence, or lose your life!
  • Ho!: Hey! Example: Brutus, ho!
  • Hither: To here. Example: Come hither Cherel!
  • Hitherto: Up till now. Example: I have accompanied you hitherto.
  • Hitherward: In that direction. Example: They move hitherward.
  • Thither: To that place. Example: The king has sent me thither.
  • Thitherward: In that direction. Example: He was walking thitherward.
  • Mark: pay attention to. Example: Mark my words!
  • Prithee: Polite way of asking something. Example:I prithee answer the question.
  • Whither: To which place/for which purpose. Example: Whither goest thou?/Whither wouldst thou send for me?
  • Sirrah: Like "Sir" for inferiors. Example: Sirrah, come over here.
  • Savey: Sassy/Cheeky. Example: Hence, thou saucy boy!
  • Foe: enemy. Example: Faithful friend from flattering foe.
  • Somewhither: Somewhere. Example: I must go somewhither.

Pantomime Terminology

• Chemistry and rapport are essential for creating believable and engaging performances on stage. They help you connect with your fellow actors, your characters, and your audience.
• Monologue: In theatre, a monologue is a speech presented by a single character, most often to express their thoughts aloud, though sometimes also to directly address another character or the audience.
• Stock Characters: A stock character is a fictional character based on common social or literary stereotypes. These characters usually rely on stereotypes for their names, mannerisms, and characteristics. For example, in a pantomime you always have a villain and hero.
• Exaggeration: Exaggeration is the representation of something as more extreme or dramatic than it is, in Drama this would involve larger movement and over the top vocal expression to show a character or situation.
• Direct address: When an actor makes eye contact with someone in the audience, and speaks to them, the result is a heightened personal connection between actors and audience, and members of the audience with each other; suddenly, everyone in the room is part of the play.
• Slapstick comedy: Slapstick is a style of physical comedy used in movies, tv shows, cartoons, and plays. It often involves chases, silly and exaggerated movements and activities, and simple practical jokes. Sometimes it can be quite violent in a ridiculous, comical kind of way.
• Facial Expressions: A facial expression conveys an emotion that tells us about the character and the way they react to the situation. The actors use their eyes, mouth, and eyebrows to convey emotion.
• Gesture: Gesture is the way people communicate with their hands or other parts of the body. It can be used to show a character's emotions and personality.
• Body Language: Body language includes posture and stance and can convey a character's feelings or personality.
• Voice: Your voice can communicate the age, temperament, personality, and the status of your character. Projecting your voice in a performance is vital in order for the audience to understand what is happening.
• Proxemics: Proxemics is how close or near you are to others on stage which can help to communicate meaning. It is also about where you position yourself on the stage so the audience can see you and others clearly.

Drama Skills

• Thought Track: This is where a character reveals their inner most thoughts and feelings to the audience.
• Role Play: Role play is taking part in a performance with speech to show a character and story.
• Hotseating: An actor sits in the 'hot-seat' and answers questions in character. This helps the actor understand their character and get into role when performing.
• Still image: This is a frozen picture which communicates meaning. It can provide insight into character relationships with a clear focus upon use of space, levels, body language and facial expression.
• Marking the moment: This is where a moment is highlighted for dramatic effect to show it is a significant part of the play. This can be achieved through still images, slow motion, thought tracks and some technical elements like lighting.
• Narration: A narrator informs the audience of the events taking place on stage. The narrator can be separate from the action or in the scene as a character talking to the audience about the events.
• Atmosphere: Atmosphere is the mood or feeling created in a performance.
• Facial Expressions: A facial expression conveys an emotion that tells us about the character and the way they react to the situation. The actors use their eyes, mouth, and eyebrows to convey emotion.
• Gesture: Gesture is the way people communicate with their hands or other parts of the body. It can be used to show a character's emotions and personality.
• Body Language: Body language includes posture and stance and can convey a character's feelings or personality.
• Voice: Your voice can communicate the age, temperament, personality, and the status of your character. Projecting your voice in a performance is vital in order for the audience to understand what is happening.
• Proxemics: Proxemics is how close or near you are to others on stage which can help to communicate meaning. It is also about where you position yourself on the stage so the audience can see you and others clearly.