live theatre vocab

Question 1

define ‘fillers’:

SPEECH/SONG

Answer 1

vocal mannerisms, e.g. fillers (‘like’, ‘y’know’, ‘what I mean’).

Question 2

define slang, jargon, dialect:

SPEECH/SONG

Answer 2

slang: language used by a specific group of people (e.g. jargon: technical language used in a specific role or profession).

dialect: language used in a specific part of a country/historical era.

Question 3

define cannon:

SPEECH/SONG

Answer 3

saying the same thing (or nearly) as other actors, one after the other, in quick succession.

Question 4

define an aside/monologue/soliloquy:

SPEECH/SONG

Answer 4

characters breaking the 4th wall
- asides = quick internal thoughts
- monologue = speeches, often alone on stage

Question 5

define duologue and overlapping dialogue:

SPEECH/SONG

Answer 5

duologue: dialogue between two characters (usually intense)

overlapping dialogue: can show anger/selfishness/disrespect/chaos.

Question 6

define ‘ad-lib’ and ‘grammelot’:

SPEECH/SONG

Answer 6

ad-lib: space left in a script for totally improvised dialogue.

grammelot: ‘gibberish’ which can be slightly understood, e.g. like in minions.

Question 7

define physical theatre:

PERFORMANCE

Answer 7

physical theatre: well-rehearsed, symbolic group movements.

Question 8

define mirroring:

PERFORMANCE

Answer 8

actors copying each other’s actions on stage (usually for a reason!).

Question 9

define soundscaping:

PERFORMANCE

Answer 9

actors creating background sounds - usually using their mouth/bodies - to reflect the action.

Question 10

define ‘semiotics’:

SET DESIGN

Answer 10

use of symbols to represent something bigger - e.g. 1 single prop/set feature can ‘stand’ for a lot.

Question 11

define ‘box set/black box theatre’:

SET DESIGN

Answer 11

• box sets are where the stage shows three realistic sides of a room.
• black box is where those three sides are black and minimal.

Question 12

define ‘raked stage’:

SET DESIGN

Answer 12

making the back of the stage higher than the front, for effect.

Question 13

define ‘rostrum’ and ‘stage blocks’:

SET DESIGN

Answer 13

stage blocks: a type of portable staging.

rostrum: a raised area on stage, e.g. using stage blocks.

Question 14

define ‘scrim’:

SET DESIGN

Answer 14

fabric drop which is non-transparent when lit from the front, but semi-transparent when lit from behind.

Question 15

define ‘flats’ and ‘flies’:

SET DESIGN

Answer 15

flats: big boards (usually wooden) used to create backdrops on the stage itself. sometimes reversible or rotatable.

flies: systems of ropes/pulleys allowing the stage crew to suspend set features, or to move them through the air.

Question 16

define ‘cyclorama’:

SET DESIGN

Answer 16

a panoramic picture at the back of a stage as a background.

Question 17

what are ‘stage dressings’:

SET DESIGN

Answer 17

props that stay in set positions on the stage - they aren’t handled by the actors. e.g. vases/paintings.

Question 18

define ‘period/non period’:

COSTUME/MAKEUP

Answer 18

period costumes fit the particular historical period in which a play is set.

non-period costumes are clothing that doesn’t fit the era.

Question 19

what are some keywords to do with hair?

COSTUME/MAKEUP

Answer 19

• style
• length
• colour
• ornaments
• wigs

Question 20

what are the three categories makeup design can be broken into?

COSTUME/MAKEUP

Answer 20

• straight (enhances actor’s look/works with lighting).
• character (enhances character’s look).
• fantasy (monsters, etc. often includes special effects).

Question 21

define ‘breaking down’:

COSTUME/MAKEUP

Answer 21

process of making a costume look older/tattier.

Question 22

define ‘follow spots’:

LIGHTING

Answer 22

spotlights (hard-edges effect) that can follow action on stage.

Question 23

define ‘fresnel’ (pronounced fray-nel):

LIGHTING

Answer 23

produces a soft-edged effect, often from above or behind.

Question 24

define ‘house lights’:

LIGHTING

Answer 24

lights which bring the audience into view.

Question 25

define ‘gobos’:

LIGHTING

Answer 25

colour filters which can be placed in front of lights with specific patterns - can be diffused across part of the stage.

Question 26

define ‘snap’, ‘strobe’, and ‘cross-fade’:

LIGHTING

Answer 26

snap: very quick change in lighting.

strobe: flashing of lighting.

cross-fade: reducing one light while increasing a different one. (applies to sound too).

Question 27

what words could be used to describe the angle of lighting?

LIGHTING

Answer 27

• backlight
• front light
• downlight
• sidelight
• angled light

Question 28

what are the three categories SFX can be broken into?

Answer 28

• functional/practical (e.g. door knock)
• atmospheric (e.g. music)
• incidental (e.g. birds, trains, etc.)

Question 29

define ‘diegetic sound’:

Answer 29

sounds really heard by characters in the world of the stage.

• live sound
• recorded sound (e.g. record player, phone ringing in another room).

Question 30

define ‘non-diegetic sound’:

Answer 30

sounds heard only be the audience, not the characters.

• atmospheric music (underscored/major/minor)
• recorded sound effects

Question 31

define reverb:

Answer 31

an echo, for effect.

Question 32

give examples of amplification:

Answer 32

using microphones (head mics?) and speakers to increase the volume of actors’ voices on stage.