Drama Vocabulary
KS3 Glossary of Drama Vocabulary
- Created by: Rae Phongsopa
- Created on: 03-06-13 03:24
Acting Area
Where an actor may move in full view of the audience
Acting Style
A particular manner of acting which reflects cultural and historical influences
Action
The development of the plot in a play; the physical movement of the characters
Analysis
How the elements of drama - literary, technical, and performance - are used
Back projection
When you project images onto a screen from behind. Often used for projecting scenery or special effects
Backdrop
A flat surface at the back of the acting area which sometimes has scenery painted on it
Blackout
Turning all stage lights off at the same time
Blocking
Everywhere an actor moves on stage (often written down in a script)
Body language
Showing a character's emotions or feeling in the position of your body
Character
A person in a drama performance or book
Characterisation
How an actor uses body, voice, and thought to develop and portray (show) a character
Characteristic
A quality typical of a person eg. kind, funny, nervous, bad tempered
Choreography
The movement of actors and dancers to music in a play
Climax
The highest point of tension in a play
Comedy
A play with funny characters and events
Concentration
The actor's focus, focusing on the work at hand, being in character, or being in the moment
Conflict
When different ideas or interests happen in a performance that creates dramatic tension
Contrast
The use of opposites, such as movement/stillness, sound/silence, and light/darkness
Development
Progession of the plot ot conflict in a play
Dialogue
Spoken conversation between two or more characters
Eye contact
Meaning that is shown by either looking directly at something/a character or away from something/a character
Facial expressions
Showing a character's emotions or feeling in your face
Flashback
To go back in time to a previous event; a flash forward would move the action into the future
Genre
A type of performance, story or piece of Art work. Drama is divided into many genres; comedy, tragedy, melodrama etc.
Genre
A type of performance, story or piece of Art work. Drama is divided into many genres; comedy, tragedy, melodrama etc.
Gesture
Any movement of the actor's head, shoulder, arm, hand, leg, or foot to show meaning or emotion
Improvisation
The use of movement and speech to create a character in a particular situation; acting done without a script
Inflection
Change in pitch or loudness of the voice
Interaction
The action ot relationship between two or more characters
Language
In drama, the particular manner of verbal expression, the diction or style of writing, or the speech or phrasing that suggests a class or profession or type of character
Mime
Acting without words
Mirroring
Copying the movement and/or expression or look of someone else exactly
Monologue
A long speech made by one actor; a monologue may be delivered alone or in the presence of others
Mood
The tone or feeling of the play, often engendered by the music, setting, or lighting
Movement
Stage blocking or the movements of the actors onstage during performance; also refers to the action of the play as it moves from event to event
Naturalism
A style of drama that attempts to represent real life on stage
Pace
Rate of movement or speed of action
Performance elements
Includes acting (eg. character motivation and analysis, empathy), speaking (breath control, vocal expression and inflection, projection, speaking style, diction), and non-verbal expression (gesture, body alignment, facial expression, character blocking, movement)
Pitch
The particular level of a voice, instrument or tune
Plot
The events of a play or arrangement of action, as opposed to the theme. See also Story line
Plot development
The organisation or building of the action in a play
Props
Short for properties; any article, except costume or scenery, used as part of a dramatic production; any moveable object that appears on stage during a performance. See also Hand props, Personal props
Protagonist
The main character or hero in a play or other literary work
Proxemics
The actual space between characters which conveys information about the circumstances
Role
The character portrayed by an actor in a drama
Role playing
Improvising movement and dialogue to put oneself in another's plave in a particular situation, often to examine the person(s) and/or situation(s) being improvised
Scene
A small section or portion of a play
Scenery
The theatrical equipment, such as curtains, flats, backdrops, or platforms, used in a dramatic production to communicate environment
Set
The physical surroundings visible to the audience, in which the action of the play takes place
Setting
When and where the action of a play takes place
Sound
The effects and audience hears during a performance to communicate character, context, or environment
Sound effects
Recorded: often abbreviated to FX. There are many sources for recorded sound effects, from compact discs. to downloading from internet. May form an obvious part of the action (train arriving at the station) or may be in the background throughout the scene (eg. bird chirping). Live: gunshots, door slams, and offstage voices (amongst many others) are most effective when done alive.
Space
A defined area
Space and levels
The position and height of an actor on stage. This can show relationships and status between characters and also their importance to the audience at that point in the action
Special Effects
Visual or sound effects used to enhance a theatrical performance
Storyline
The plot or plan of action
Stylisation
The shaping of dramatic material, settings, or costumes in a deliberately nonrealistic manner
Suspense
A feeling of uncertainty as to the outcome, used to build interest and excitement on the part of the audience
Symbolism
The use of symbolic language, imagery, or colour to evoke emotions or ideas
Tableau
A technique in creative drama in which actors create a frozen picture, as if the action were paused; plural is tableaux. Not to be confused with freeze frame, which is a term used in film and video production and which should not be used when discussing drama.
Tempo
Relative speed or rate of movement in pace over time, eg. the speed at which the music for a dance should be played. Can be applied to dramatic contexts such as in 'tempo rhythm'
Tension
The atmosphere created by unresolved, disquieting, or inharmonious situations that human beings feel compelled to address; the state of anxiety the audience feels because of a threat to a character in a play
Text
The basis of dramatic activity and performance; a written script or an agreed upon structure and content for an improvisation
Theatre-In-The-Round
An acting area or stage that may be viewed from all sides simultaneously
Theme
The basic idea of a play; the idea, point of view, or perception that binds together a work of art
Thrust
A stage that extends into the audience area, with seats on three sides of a peninsula-shaped acting space
Timing
Includes setting cues for effects and lighting, synchronising two or more things that must happen simultaneously, and establishing the pace at which lines will be delivered or the play performed
Tone
A quality in the voice which expresses the speaker's feelings or thoughts, often towards the person being spoken to
Traverse
Form of staging where the audience is on either side of the acting area
Turning point
The climax or high point of a story, when events can go either way
Vocal expression
How an actor uses his or her voice to convey character
Vocal projection
Directing the voice out of the body to be heard clearly at a distance
Voice
The combination of vocal qualities an actor uses such as articulation, phrasing, and pronunciation
Volume
How a performer adjusts their voice to be louder or quieter
Wings
Offstage areas to the right and left of the acting/onstage area
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