Drama Glossary
Key theatre terms and definitions including related shows.
A philosophical underpinning of Naturalism in theatre, asserting that behavior is shaped by heredity and environment.
A regional British dialect associated with Liverpool, often used in theatre to convey authenticity or working-class identity.
The enforced separation of groups that is often portrayed in theatre to address themes of injustice and inequality.
Practices for mental and physical well-being, increasingly referenced in modern drama about identity and resilience.
A psychological condition depicted in modern plays to explore vulnerability, alienation, and mental health.
A dramatic style set in the American South, focusing on decay, eccentricity, and moral failures, often using symbolism and grotesque characters.
A legal time limit to press charges, thematically used in drama to explore justice, memory, and accountability.
Subtext refers to the unspoken thoughts, emotions, or intentions that lie beneath a character’s dialogue or actions. It provides depth and complexity to performances, allowing audiences to sense hidden conflicts or desires. Directors and actors often rely on subtext to create nuance and tension in storytelling.
A dramatic style focused on dreamlike imagery and illogical scenes to explore the subconscious or challenge realism.
A movement and technique using symbolic imagery and metaphors to express abstract ideas and inner experiences.
An incurable disease used in theatre to explore mortality, dignity, and emotional complexity in realist or symbolic narratives.
A borough of NYC often depicted in urban theatre to explore culture, struggle, and resilience.