Drama Glossary
Key theatre terms and definitions including related shows.
In Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed, the facilitator who guides interaction between audience and actors without imposing bias.
A political party featured in British theatre to represent working-class struggles, socialism, and reform.
A participatory theatre practice from Augusto Boal where citizens perform proposed laws and vote on them in performance.
A written statement declaring the artistic or political intentions of a theatrical movement or company.
A political theory critiquing capitalism and class struggle, frequently central in Brechtian and epic theatre.
A form of self-referential drama where the play draws attention to its own theatricality. This device challenges the audience’s suspension of disbelief and is used in Epic Theatre and postmodern works.
Spoken commentary that provides exposition or transitions within a play. Narration often bridges scenes and guides audience understanding.
A character or voice that tells part of the story, offering commentary or background. Narrators are frequently used in children’s theatre and epic productions.
A fascist regime often dramatized to examine themes of extremism, propaganda, genocide, and moral collapse.
A technique from Augusto Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed, transforming news articles into performative pieces to expose bias or stimulate discussion.
A performance style that avoids realism to emphasize theatricality, abstraction, or metaphor over lifelike imitation.
A dramatic approach that diverges from reality to express inner truths, ideas, or heightened emotional states.