Drama Glossary
Key theatre terms and definitions including related shows.
A motor disability occasionally represented in realistic theatre to highlight lived experiences and challenge audience assumptions.
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.
Coming of age refers to a story or theme in which a young character transitions into adulthood, often through challenges or self-discovery. This journey typically explores identity, responsibility, and the search for purpose. Many plays and musicals use coming-of-age themes to connect audiences with universal experiences of growth.
An old term for tuberculosis, frequently referenced in period dramas to evoke suffering, mortality, or isolation.
A religious community of women, frequently featured in plays dealing with themes of faith, discipline, or restricted freedom.
A behavioral strategy characters use to deal with stress or trauma, commonly explored in modern psychological drama.
Legal guardianship over a child or dependent, often used in family dramas to depict emotional or moral conflict.
A cultural region of the United States often explored in theatre for its historical legacies of race, class, and tradition.
A cognitive disorder explored in drama to address memory loss, identity, and the human experience of aging.
A mental health condition portrayed in theatre to explore emotional depth, realism, and character struggle.
A chronic illness referenced in contemporary plays to highlight health, inequality, or family issues.
Docudrama is a genre that blends factual events or real-life interviews with dramatic storytelling techniques. It seeks to present truth through a theatrical or cinematic lens, combining authentic dialogue or situations with interpretive performance. The goal is to engage audiences emotionally while maintaining a foundation in reality and historical accuracy.