Drama Glossary
Key theatre terms and definitions including related shows.
A key element in dramatic structure, referring to pacing, chronology, or the period in which the play is set.
The emotional quality or attitude conveyed in speech, text, or music, helping shape audience response and character mood.
A tone of ironic or playful humor used in plays to mock conventions or critique societal norms with subtle sarcasm.
An actor who specializes in tragic roles, often possessing a powerful voice and gravitas suitable for dramatic intensity.
A dramatic genre involving serious themes and the downfall of a protagonist, often evoking catharsis from the audience.
A protagonist whose downfall results from a fatal flaw, central to classical and modern tragedy.
A genre blending elements of tragedy and comedy, often leaving audiences in emotional or thematic tension.
A character or theme denoting impermanence, often used to explore societal change or alienation in drama.
Transliteration is the process of representing the letters or characters of one writing system using the corresponding letters of another. Unlike translation, it focuses on preserving the original pronunciation rather than meaning. In drama, transliteration can be important for scripts, character names, or titles written in different alphabets, helping actors and audiences pronounce them accurately.
A group of three connected dramatic works that develop a theme or narrative across multiple performances.
A character type marked by competitiveness and urgency, used in plays to generate tension and reveal character flaws.