Drama Glossary Terms Flashcards
Act
A division of the action of the play; a part of the play.
Aside
Thoughts or speech that a character delivers directly to the audience, and “cannot be heard by other characters in the play”.
Auditorium
The part of the theatre accommodating the audience during the performance.
Blocking
The path/movement the actors make on stage as decided upon by the actor and director.
Breaking character
When an actor, while actively performing in character, slips out of character and behaves as their actual self.
Catharsis
The purging of emotions through art; a process, in which the audience, release, strong, pent-up emotions by watching plays.
Chorus
A group of actors in a play, who comment on and describe the action.
Comedy
A Play that treats characters and situations in a humorous way, typically has a happy ending.
Curtain call
At the end of a performance, the audience applauding the actors as they bow.
Dialogue
Words spoken by characters in literary work, as opposed to words that come directly from the narrator.
Drama
A work of literature, in which action is performed, and all words are spoken before an audience by an actor or actors who are impersonating the characters.
Dramatic irony
Occurs when the reader or audience knows information that the characters do not.
Dress rehearsal
A full rehearsal with all technical and creative elements brought together.
Enunciation
The act of pronouncing words; good enunciation means your words are clear and distinct and listeners can understand what you are saying while you are performing.
Fourth wall
An imaginary, invisible wall that separates the audience from the action of a play; “to break the fourth wall” is when an actor talks directly to the audience.
FX
Sound effects
LX
Lighting
Monologue
A long speech delivered by a single character in a work of art. (Everyone can hear it).
Playwright
A person who writes plays
Projection
The ability to use your voice loudly, powerfully, and clearly while you are performing.
Props
Objects that appear on stage during a play (one specific object )
Rehearsal
A Session when actors are called to work through some scenes from the play in private.
Script
The text of the play
Scene
A section or subdivision of an act in a play. 
Set
The design, decoration and scenery of the stage during a play. (everything in the stage)
Soliloquy
A speech in which a character, usually alone on stage, speaks their inner thoughts aloud.
Stage
The area in the theatre where the actor perform; types of theatres include: amphitheatre, Arena stage, the proscenium stage, thrust stage.
Stage directions
Instructions in the script that tell the actors what to do, and where to move on stage; may also provide characterization and information about the setting.
Tragedy
Any serious play in which man is a victim of fate, a character flaw, moral weakness, or social pressure; typically has a sad ending.
