Drama Glossary
Key theatre terms and definitions including related shows.
The hero of the Ramayana epic, representing virtue and ideal kingship, central to Indian theatre and dance traditions.
Thailand’s national epic based on the Ramayana, adapted into dramatic performances with music, dance, and masks.
A working-class character on a ranch, used in Western or realist theatre to explore labor, masculinity, and independence.
A demonic figure in Balinese mythology, often portrayed in dance-drama as the embodiment of chaos and destruction.
The span between the lowest and highest notes a singer can perform. Vocal range is key to casting and repertoire in opera and musical theatre.
Social or military status often referenced in historical or classical plays to define hierarchy and power dynamics among characters.
A spoken rhythmic vocal style incorporated into modern musicals and theatre to convey energy, storytelling, or protest.
A metaphor or literal device used in plays to symbolize entrapment, commonly seen in psychological or symbolic dramas.
The multi-headed demon king of Lanka in the Ramayana, symbolizing evil and hubris in South and Southeast Asian theatre.
To destroy or demolish, often used in dramatic texts to describe ruin or downfall. It adds gravitas to climactic or tragic scenes.
A performer or dramaturg who reads aloud from a script, often used in staged readings or table work sessions.
A theatrical movement that strives to depict everyday life and authentic behavior on stage. It often focuses on domestic settings and psychological depth.