Drama Glossary
Key theatre terms and definitions including related shows.
A brief trumpet flourish used in Shakespearean theatre to announce the entrance or exit of important characters.
An archaic word meaning 'since' or 'because,' found in Shakespearean texts. It adds to the poetic structure of early modern English plays.
A speech delivered by a character alone on stage, revealing inner thoughts or emotions to the audience. Common in Shakespearean plays.
Historically associated with melancholy or ill temper, 'spleen' appears in poetic drama to express emotional imbalance.
A literary term describing lovers doomed by fate, made famous by Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'.
Recognizable character types used across theatrical traditions, such as the fool, villain, or ingenue.
A character who courts another romantically, often central to plots in classical and romantic comedies.
A prominent Elizabethan acting company rivaling Shakespeare's troupe, known for producing works by Christopher Marlowe.
An archaic second-person singular pronoun meaning 'you,' used in English Renaissance drama to indicate intimacy or formality.
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.
An informal second-person pronoun used in Shakespearean and early English theatre, equivalent to modern 'you.'