Drama Glossary
Key theatre terms and definitions including related shows.
The background information about a character’s history or experiences before the action of the play begins.
Humorously indecent or risque, often found in Shakespearean and Restoration comedy.
Characterized by kindness or doing good, often used in theatre to describe morally upright or generous figures in contrast to villains.
Comedy that treats disturbing or taboo subjects with irony, often found in satire or plays with existential themes.
The act of coercion through threat, often central to dramatic conflict and manipulation in thrillers or tragedies.
A poetic or dramatic listing of a person's attributes or characteristics, often used to praise or mock.
Describes characters or artists who reject conventional norms, often romanticized in theatre and musicals.
A character who enjoys the pleasures of life, particularly food and social activity, often portrayed as charming and sociable.
In musical theatre, the script or spoken text of the show, not including the music or lyrics.
A fictional persona invented to escape social obligations, coined from Oscar Wilde’s play *The Importance of Being Earnest*.
A character arc is the journey of personal growth, change, or transformation that a character undergoes throughout a play or musical. It often involves overcoming internal or external obstacles, leading to a deeper understanding of oneself or others. Strong arcs help audiences connect emotionally with characters and give structure to the overall narrative.
A character foil is one whose traits contrast with another character, thereby highlighting qualities in both. In No, No, Nanette, Sue’s strict propriety serves as a foil to Nanette’s youthful desire for freedom, emphasizing the tension between tradition and independence. The use of foils helps dramatists reveal character differences without lengthy exposition.