Drama Glossary
Key theatre terms and definitions including related shows.
All behind-the-scenes disciplines of theatre production, including lighting, sound, set design, costume, props, and stage management.
The perceived surface or feel of a costume, set, or sound, which contributes to the aesthetic and emotional tone of a production.
A performance space that extends into the audience on three sides, encouraging intimacy and dynamic staging.
A trap is an opening in the stage floor, often covered by a removable panel or door, used for special entrances, exits, or stage effects. It can allow actors, props, or scenery to appear or disappear suddenly, adding dramatic impact. Traps have been used in theatre for centuries, from ghostly appearances in Shakespearean plays to modern technical illusions.
A type of curtain that opens horizontally from the center or sides of the stage, used to conceal or reveal scenic elements.
A stage configuration where the audience sits on two opposite sides, creating a runway-style performance space.
A three-legged stand used to support cameras or lighting equipment in stage and film production settings.
A unit set is a single stage setting that is used throughout a play, rather than changing locations with each scene. It provides a continuous environment that can be adapted with lighting, props, or minimal adjustments to suggest different times or moods. Unit sets are often chosen for their practicality and ability to focus attention on the actors and dialogue.
The area of the stage farthest from the audience. Also refers to an actor drawing attention away from another’s focus.
A narrow horizontal masking curtain at the top of the stage, used to hide lighting and rigging.
A stiffened underskirt from the 19th century that created a wide silhouette, commonly used in period costumes.
The collection and organization of costumes for a production, managed by wardrobe crew responsible for maintenance and changes.