Drama Glossary
Key theatre terms and definitions including related shows.
A style of performance where the audience becomes part of the story environment. This term plays a vital role in understanding theatrical structure and is commonly encountered in stagecraft or performance settings.
Spoken or performed without preparation. This term plays a vital role in understanding theatrical structure and is commonly encountered in stagecraft or performance settings.
A performance technique in which dialogue and action are created spontaneously. This term plays a vital role in understanding theatrical structure and is commonly encountered in stagecraft or performance settings.
Sexual relations between people classed as being too closely related to marry each other.
The event or decision that sets the main story in motion, introducing the central conflict and prompting the protagonist to act. This pivotal moment often appears early in a play or script and is essential for driving the plot forward. It marks the point of no return for the characters and helps establish the story's stakes.
The practice of ensuring representation of diverse identities in casting, storytelling, and creative decision-making.
Refers to the original peoples of a region; their performance traditions often include ritual, storytelling, and dance.
A heavy-duty machine used for constructing costumes and theatrical garments, designed to withstand prolonged use and stitch through tough fabrics. These machines are essential in costume shops for efficiency and precision during high-volume production schedules.
A betrayal of romantic commitment, often a catalyst for emotional turmoil and dramatic conflict.
In theatre and film, the ingénue is a stock character representing a young, innocent, and often naïve woman, typically portrayed with charm and vulnerability. She is usually cast as the romantic interest, embodying purity and youthful idealism in contrast to more worldly or complex characters. The role often highlights themes of coming-of-age, first love, and the challenges of navigating adult society.
The young lovers in Commedia dell’arte, typically portrayed as idealistic and melodramatic, without masks.
Live auditions where actors perform in front of casting directors and creative teams at a designated physical location. These auditions allow evaluators to assess presence, vocal projection, and responsiveness to direction in real-time, offering a fuller picture than remote submissions.