Drama Glossary

Poetic dialogue is language in a play that goes beyond everyday speech, using rhythm, imagery, or musical qualities to express deep emotions and abstract ideas. Instead of plain conversation, characters may speak in heightened or lyrical ways that reveal the intensity of their feelings or the dreamlike quality of the world around them. This style encourages audiences to focus on the beauty and meaning of the words, not just the plot.

Political theatre is drama that directly addresses social, cultural, or governmental issues with the aim of provoking thought, debate, or change. It often critiques systems of power, highlights injustices, and challenges audiences to reflect on their own roles within society. By blurring the line between art and activism, political theatre seeks not only to entertain but also to raise awareness and inspire action.

Describes works published or recognition given after a person’s death, often dramatized to highlight legacy or injustice.

Power dynamics refer to the shifting relationships of authority, influence, and control between characters in a performance. These dynamics are often revealed through dialogue, body language, and conflict, shaping how a story develops on stage. In drama, they highlight struggles between individuals or groups, such as an artist asserting independence against those who try to exploit or silence them.

A dramatic or narrative work that takes place before the events of a previously written or performed story. Prequels expand character backstories and contextualize original plots.

An original text or artifact from the period being studied, used in dramaturgy or research to build authenticity.

The inheritance system favoring firstborn sons, often dramatized in historical or conflict-driven theatre.

A Prophecy is a prediction or foretelling of future events, usually delivered by a character with divine insight or supernatural authority. In drama, prophecies often create dramatic tension by revealing the outcome before it happens. Characters may try to avoid the prophecy, but their actions usually bring it about, underscoring themes of fate and inevitability.

Ordinary written or spoken language without structured meter, often used in contrast to verse in theatrical texts.

The main character of a play or story, typically the one whose journey or conflict drives the plot. The protagonist often experiences growth or change.

The human mind and spirit, often explored in psychological theatre to depict internal conflict or transformation.

A fraudulent medical practitioner, used in comedies or period plays to satirize ignorance and exploitation.