Drama Glossary
Key theatre terms and definitions including related shows.
A horizontal pipe suspended above the stage from which lights, scenery, or curtains are hung.
A term used in classical theatre to refer to a woman who runs a brothel; often used in comedic or bawdy contexts.
Humorously indecent or risque, often found in Shakespearean and Restoration comedy.
The angle at which a light beam spreads from a fixture, determining the width of the light's coverage.
A small pause or moment of shift in a scene, often used to emphasize a change in emotion or intention.
Units of action in a scene that reflect changes in objective or emotion; used in acting to structure performance.
A historical asylum in London that symbolizes chaos or madness in theatre, often used metaphorically in dramatic works.
An operatic singing style emphasizing beautiful tone, phrasing, and technique, typical of 18th and early 19th-century Italian opera.
An old woman, often portrayed as a witch or hag in classical and Gothic theatre.
A vocal or instrumental tone that starts with a distinct attack and then fades, resembling the sound of a bell.
A powerful, resonant singing technique used in musical theatre to project high notes with chest voice.
A powerful singing technique that uses chest voice in higher pitches, common in musical theatre for dramatic emphasis.