Drama Glossary
Key theatre terms and definitions including related shows.
A character type marked by odd or unusual behavior, often used for comedic or dramatic effect.
A historical era in Japan (1603–1868) during which Kabuki and Bunraku theatre flourished as major cultural expressions.
In acting or movement, refers to the degree of energy, focus, and intensity used to perform physical or emotional action.
A term meaning 'equal'; may appear in historical or revolutionary-themed plays, especially those with European roots.
Yoruba masquerade tradition involving masked performers who embody ancestral spirits through dance and ritual.
A note worth half a beat in common time, often used for quicker rhythms in theatrical songs and dance sequences.
A numbered overhead lighting position in a theatre from which lighting instruments are hung.
A magical or healing potion used symbolically or literally in theatre, especially in fantasy or mythic stories.
Queen of England whose reign supported the flourishing of English Renaissance theatre and the works of Shakespeare.
Relating to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, marked by flourishing English drama and playwrights like Shakespeare and Marlowe.
To run away secretly to get married; often a plot device in Romantic and English Renaissance plays.
A mythological paradise used in drama to symbolize peace after death, as in Tennessee Williams' 'A Streetcar Named Desire'.