Drama Glossary
Key theatre terms and definitions including related shows.
A form of early Roman comedy featuring stock characters and improvisation, considered a precursor to Commedia dell’arte.
An Italian theatrical form featuring masked stock characters, improvisation, and physical comedy, influential in modern comedy and clowning.
A comedic technique in physical theatre where a character reacts with excessive effort to minor obstacles.
A stylistic device in acting or design that emphasizes traits or actions beyond realism for comic or emotional effect.
A stylized performance technique where actors move in exaggerated speed to comedic or rhythmic effect.
A stock character in Commedia dell’arte known for acrobatics, wit, and a colorful diamond-patterned costume.
A boastful yet cowardly soldier archetype in Commedia dell’arte, representing pompous authority and false bravado.
The young lovers in Commedia dell’arte, typically portrayed as idealistic and melodramatic, without masks.
A comic routine or bit used in commedia dell’arte, often improvised and repeated throughout performances. Lazzi are designed to showcase physical comedy and timing, and they highlight the actor’s skill in engaging the audience with exaggerated or absurd humor.
A common plot device in which one character is confused for another, often leading to comedic or dramatic consequences. This trope is widely used in English Renaissance and Commedia dell’arte theatre.
A performance style using exaggerated physical gestures and expressions rather than speech. Pantomime is a key component of Commedia dell’arte and children’s theatre.
A stock character from French pantomime, often portrayed as a sad clown with white face paint and a ruffled collar. Pierrot symbolizes unrequited love and poetic melancholy.