Drama Glossary
Key theatre terms and definitions including related shows.
A technical rehearsal where only the parts of the script involving lighting, sound, and scene changes are run.
A cult classic is a play, film, or musical that develops a devoted and passionate following despite (or because of) its unconventional, offbeat, or low-budget qualities. These works often gain popularity through word-of-mouth and fan enthusiasm rather than mainstream success. In drama, cult classics are celebrated for their uniqueness, eccentricity, and enduring subcultural appeal.
A passionate, niche audience devoted to a specific play or performance style, often regardless of mainstream popularity.
The traditions, practices, and expressions of a culture that influence theatre, often preserved through performance.
A spoken or symbolic expression of ill will, often used in drama to introduce supernatural or emotional conflict.
Legal guardianship over a child or dependent, often used in family dramas to depict emotional or moral conflict.
A costume team member responsible for translating designs into patterns and fabric cuts for garment construction.
A large, usually white, curtain that is lit to create setting and masks the back of the stage behind the set.
“from the head”; an aria in which the first part is repeated, the singer being expected to add ornamentation in the repeated section.
An early 20th-century avant-garde movement rejecting logic and embracing absurdity, influencing experimental theatre.
A large bamboo flute used in Korean music and theatre, providing lyrical and ceremonial tones in traditional performances.
A pioneering Japanese Butoh dance troupe known for grotesque, physical theatre and explorations of the body’s extremes.