Drama Glossary
Key theatre terms and definitions including related shows.
A tailored costume representing formality, social status, or time period. Suits are used to define character and context.
A collection of fabric samples used by costume and scenic designers to choose textures and colors for production design.
Coordinated timing between performers or technical elements that heightens impact and clarity of a scene.
A tableau is a staged moment where performers freeze in a visually powerful pose or arrangement, almost like a living picture. Instead of dialogue or movement, the image itself communicates the meaning—whether it’s celebrating triumph, mourning loss, or showing a turning point in the story. In an opera such as Ça Ira, which dramatizes the French Revolution, tableaux are often used to symbolize big events like the storming of the Bastille or the collective spirit of the people.
A silent, motionless stage picture created by actors to represent a scene, mood, or moment, often used to end a scene or act symbolically.
A formal coat with a short front and long back tails, often used in period costume design for 19th-century characters or formal roles.
A costume piece designed to be quickly removed onstage, often used in dance numbers or comedic transformations.
A short horizontal curtain masking lighting equipment or scenery above the stage, used in proscenium theatres for visual concealment.
Short for 'technical rehearsal' or 'technical crew,' referring to all non-performance elements such as lighting, sound, and set operations.
The final week of rehearsal when technical elements are integrated into the production. It is often the most intense rehearsal period.
The staff member who oversees the implementation of all technical aspects of a production, including scenery, rigging, and technical staff.
A rehearsal devoted to integrating technical elements like lights, sound, and scene changes with the performers’ actions.