Drama Glossary
Key theatre terms and definitions including related shows.
A short performance between acts or scenes, often offering comic relief or thematic commentary in dramatic structure.
A scheduled break between acts in a play or musical, giving the audience and performers a pause in the performance. Intermissions allow for set changes, costume adjustments, and audience refreshments, and are also useful for building suspense and anticipation.
A struggle within a character’s mind or emotions that drives dramatic tension and character development.
The distance between two pitches, key to vocal technique and harmony in theatre music and operatic compositions.
A formal or informal meeting used in casting or academic settings to evaluate an artist's experience, goals, or fit for a program or role. Interviews may accompany auditions or applications, providing additional context for decision-makers.
Close emotional or physical relationships in theatre that require sensitivity and, often, choreography for safety.
The accuracy of pitch in speech or singing, crucial for both musical and dramatic performance clarity.
The controlled use of pitch and tone in speech, often used for dramatic or ritualistic effect. Intoning helps to set the mood or emphasize the importance of dialogue in performance and is often applied in classical or ceremonial theatre traditions.
An actor’s instinctive understanding of character or moment, developed through rehearsal and emotional intelligence.
A form of street theatre where performers act out scenes in public as if real, often to provoke social awareness.
Short for Irish Republican Army, often referenced in plays centered on Irish history, identity, or conflict, especially The Troubles.
A literary device where the intended meaning differs from the literal meaning, often creating contrast or humor. Irony is used in theatre to provoke thought or elicit reactions from the audience by highlighting contradictions in character behavior or plot outcomes.