Drama Glossary
Key theatre terms and definitions including related shows.
British law that ended the monopoly of patent theatres and allowed for more open theatrical licensing.
An archaic second-person singular pronoun meaning 'you,' used in English Renaissance drama to indicate intimacy or formality.
The central idea or message explored in a theatrical work, often reflecting universal concepts such as love, power, or identity.
A system of government in which priests rule in the name of God or a god.
The study of religion and divine themes, explored in plays to question belief, doctrine, and spiritual struggle.
A scholar who develops ideas and frameworks for understanding and interpreting dramatic literature or performance.
Darwin’s theory profoundly influenced Naturalist theatre by encouraging focus on heredity and environment in drama.
An archaic possessive pronoun equivalent to 'yours,' frequently used in poetic and Renaissance theatre.
An old English word meaning 'to that place,' often found in early modern plays to indicate direction or travel.
The demon king in Thai Ramakien plays, a counterpart to Ravana in Indian mythology, often portrayed with grandeur and menace.
An informal second-person pronoun used in Shakespearean and early English theatre, equivalent to modern 'you.'
A neoclassical principle dictating unity of time, place, and action, influencing dramatic structure in theatre history.