Drama Glossary
Key theatre terms and definitions including related shows.
A dramatic theme involving cultural adaptation or loss of identity, explored in works about immigration and heritage.
A classical dance-drama text from Kerala, India, used in Kathakali performance to convey story through movement and music.
Spanish one-act religious plays of the 16th–17th centuries that explore Catholic doctrine through allegory and symbolism.
An Indonesian island known for its traditional theatrical forms like *Topeng* and *Wayang*, featuring music, dance, and masks.
Relating to the theatre traditions of Bali, often incorporating ritual, shadow puppetry, and elaborate movement.
A lion-like creature in Balinese performance symbolizing good, featured in ceremonial dance dramas.
The use of two languages in performance, often reflecting cultural identity, accessibility, or political context.
A cultural movement emphasizing Black pride and political empowerment, reflected in African-American theatre of the 1960s and 70s.
A traditional Korean barrel drum used in theatrical music and ritual performance, central to Korean folk and court music.
A traditional Japanese puppet theatre form involving large, intricately operated puppets accompanied by music and narration.
A full-body garment worn by some Muslim women, used in theatre to explore themes of identity, gender roles, and religious freedom.
Camp is a performance style that celebrates exaggeration, theatricality, and deliberate bad taste for comic or satirical effect. Often marked by irony, flamboyance, and over-the-top characterizations, camp turns the absurd into entertainment. In theatre, it invites audiences to laugh both at and with the performance’s outrageousness.