Drama Glossary
Key theatre terms and definitions including related shows.
The Exclusion Crisis was a period of intense political conflict in England from 1679 to 1681, centered on the attempt to pass a bill to exclude the openly Catholic brother of King Charles II, James, Duke of York, from the line of succession to the throne.
A collection of essays that influence American governance, occasionally referenced in political and historical plays.
Core skills in Chinese opera performance: singing, speech, acting, fighting, and dancing, foundational to traditional training.
A foundational performance framework in Chinese opera emphasizing singing, acting, speech, and martial arts.
A radical experimental theatre group founded in 1947, known for political performance and avant-garde work.
Aristotle’s seminal work analyzing dramatic theory, particularly tragedy, offering foundational principles still applied in playwriting today.
Refers to Stanislavski’s acting method focusing on realism, emotional truth, and character motivation in performance.
A powerful group of theatre producers that monopolized U.S. touring routes and bookings in the early 20th century.
A period of conflict in Northern Ireland explored in drama through themes of nationalism, identity, and political strife.
An experimental movement by Antonin Artaud seeking to shock audiences and disrupt traditional theatre conventions.
A dramatic movement featuring illogical dialogue, cyclical plots, and existential themes, reflecting the absurdity of human existence.
A movement by Augusto Boal using theatre as a tool for social change and empowering marginalized voices.