general

• antagonist: the opponent of the hero or main character of a drama
• blocking: deliberate choices about where the performers stand and how they move on stage to bring an extract to life.
• catharsis: emotional release felt by audience at the end of a tragedy; the audience is set free of the emotional hold of the action, after sharing the protaganists troubles.
• character: a person portrayed in the play
• chorus: a group of performers who sing, move or recite in unison / as one.
• climax: the point of greatest intensity in a series or progression of events, often forming the turning point of the plot and leading to some sort of resolution.
• comedy: a play that treats characters and situations in a humorous way.
• comic relief: a break in the tension of a tragedy by a comic character, comic episode or comic line.
• conflict: the internal or external battles between opposing forces, ideas or interests that creates dramatic tension
• contrast: the dynamic use of opposites such as movement and stillness.
• denouement: the moment in a drama when the essential plot is unravelled or explained.
• development: progression of the plot or conflict in a play
• dynamic: the energetic range of variations within physical movement or the difference between levels of sound.
• Exposition: Introduction of theme, main characters, and current circumstances in a play.
• Fourth Wall: The invisible wall through which the audience views the play.
• farce: an extreme form of comedy depending on quick tempo and flawless timing, based on improbable events and farfetched consequences.
• Genre: Category or type, e.g., comedy, tragedy, or farce.
• Mood: The tone or feeling of the play.
• Monologue: A long speech by one performer.
• Ensemble: Unified effect achieved by all members of the cast working together, rather than a focus on individual performances, also be used to refer to the cast.
• Flashback: In a non-linear plot, to go back in time to a previous event; a flash forward would move the action into the future.
• Form: Refers to the shape of each individual section or scene, e.g., movement/mime-based ensemble scene, duologue, advert, moments of thought-tracking.
• Fourth Wall: The invisible wall of a set through which the audience sees the action of the play.
• Irony: An implied discrepancy between what is said and what is meant. When the audience perceives something that a character does not know, that is dramatic irony.
• Melodrama: A style of play, which originated in the 19th century, relying heavily on sensationalism and sentimentality.
• Mood: The tone or feeling of the play, often established or enhanced by production or design elements.
• Monologue: A long speech made by one performer; a monologue may be delivered alone or in the presence of others.
• Naturalism: Drama which attempts to represent real life on stage; actions tend to be shaped by determinism (societal or environmental forces).
• Parody: A mocking or satirical imitation of a literary or dramatic work.
• Plot: The events and sequences of action within a play, sometimes known as narrative or storyline.
• Protagonist: The main character or hero in a play or other literary work.
• Realism: An attempt in theatre to represent everyday life and characters as they are or appear to be.
• Resolution: How the problem or conflict in a drama is solved or concluded
• Role: The character portrayed by a performer in a drama.
• Satire: A play in which sarcasm, irony, and ridicule are used to expose or attack folly or pretension in society.
• Scene: A small section or portion of a play.
• Setting: When and where the action of a play takes place.
• Stage Directions: Instructions given by the playwright about how a play should be staged, when actors should make their entrances and exits, and how lines should be delivered.
• Staging: The use of the stage as a design element, considering the choice of stage; positioning of entrances/exits, set items, stage furniture, levels; awareness of the audience; creating an appropriate space for performers/audience.
• Style: Style relates to the chosen theatrical approach, e.g., naturalist, minimalist, Brechtian, etc.