english theatrical terms

• Drama terms


  • protagonist - central character
  • antagonist - act in opposition to the protagonist
  • monologue - long speech to the audience
  • duologue - scene between two characters, not a speech
  • denouement - solution clarification and unrevealing of the plot
  • proxemics - distance or closeness between characters
  • status - authority or importance
  • stage direction - instruction from the playwright to the actors or stage crew
  • soliloquy - monologue where characters share their thoughts
  • masking - theatrical scenery
• Theatrical terms


  • aside - speech delivered to the audience to supposedly not heard
  • backdrop - scenery hung at the back part of stage
  • cue - signal prompting in event in performance
  • flat - flat pieces of scenery to give appearance of a building or setting
  • flies - space used to store sceneries
  • gauze - material which can be used through when lit from behind
  • iron - also known as safety curtain
  • lx & sfx - lighting/lightning effect and sound effect
  • prompter - person offstage who prompts actor whenever they forget their lines
  • props - item carried on stage by an actor or used by actors
• Hazer


  A device that creates a thin mist of fogs
• Cardioid microphone


  A microphone designed to pick up sound only directly in front of it
• Crossfader


  A lever on a lighting control console that simultaneously dims all the channels
• House right


  Right side of the auditorium from the audience's point of view
• Prompt book


  A book compiled by the stage manager that contains all the information about the show
• Jackknife platform/jackknife stage


  A platform that pivots one corner
• Callboard


  The backstage bulletin where announcements are posted
• Drop


  Lighting coming from up-stage of an actor
• Personal props


  Items carried by an actor during the play/performance
• Green rooms


  An area where performers wait until it's their time to go onstage
• Front of house


  Anything in the house/theatre except on stage
• Audience blinders


  A bank of PAR cans used to create a bright wash of lights to the audience
• False proscenium


  A portal that gives the set its own "picture frame"
• Boom stand


  A microphone with horizontal attachment
• Subwoofer


  A speaker designed to play at very low, almost inaudible frequencies
• Caster


  The wheels on a platform
• Set dressing


  Decorations that have no function to the set but are placed to look good
• Stock scenery


  Flats and platforms that are stored and used
• Woofer


  A speaker element that reproduces low-end frequencies
• Comedy


  A theatrical play that is intentionally humorous
• Costumes


  Clothing worn by the actor/actresses during the play
• Character


  A personality or role created by the actor/actresses
• Director

  A person who oversees the entire process of staging production