Drama Y08 Aut1 Flashcards
Shakespeare
British playwright (William Shakespeare) – 1564-1616
Elizabethan
Tudor period of English history during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603)
tension
An effect created when keeping the audience in suspense – making the audience ask ‘what’s going to happen next’? Often linked to emotions of fear, anxiety, worry and anger.
atmosphere
The tone or mood of the situation onstage
body language
Definition: Changes in posture to communicate without speaking
Use: Communicates a character’s emotion, age, status, relationships
facial expression
Definition: Movements in the face to communicate without speaking
Use: Communicates a character’s emotion
gesture
Definition: Hand movements and symbols
Use: Communicates a wide range of meanings including attitudes, status and the use of props
movement
Definition: The way the body is used to move across the stage
Use: Communicates a character’s emotions, age, surroundings
proximity
Definition: The distance between people or objects (how near or far)
Use: To emphasise relationships or motivations
pitch
Definition: The degree of highness or lowness in a voice, Use: ‘She spoke with a high pitched voice…’
pace
Definition: The speed at which an actor speaks
Use: ‘His pace quickened to convey his growing anger’
pause
Definition: A moment of silence in speech
Use: ‘I will pause after the word ‘you’…’
tone
Definition: The attitude of a character expressed through voice
Use: ‘He spoke with a sarcastic tone of voice’
volume
Definition: How loud or quiet a voice is
Use: ‘She spoke quietly at first but raised her volume throughout the speech’
accent
Definition: A distinctive way of pronouncing words which gives away a character’s country of origin
Use: ‘They spoke with an American accent’
Stage Areas
