Drama Glossary
Key theatre terms and definitions including related shows.
A boastful yet cowardly soldier archetype in Commedia dell’arte, representing pompous authority and false bravado.
A technique from Augusto Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed where actors create tableaux to explore social issues.
A style of performance where the audience becomes part of the story environment. This term plays a vital role in understanding theatrical structure and is commonly encountered in stagecraft or performance settings.
Spoken or performed without preparation. This term plays a vital role in understanding theatrical structure and is commonly encountered in stagecraft or performance settings.
A performance technique in which dialogue and action are created spontaneously. This term plays a vital role in understanding theatrical structure and is commonly encountered in stagecraft or performance settings.
The event or decision that sets the main story in motion, introducing the central conflict and prompting the protagonist to act. This pivotal moment often appears early in a play or script and is essential for driving the plot forward. It marks the point of no return for the characters and helps establish the story's stakes.
The practice of ensuring representation of diverse identities in casting, storytelling, and creative decision-making.
Refers to the original peoples of a region; their performance traditions often include ritual, storytelling, and dance.
A heavy-duty machine used for constructing costumes and theatrical garments, designed to withstand prolonged use and stitch through tough fabrics. These machines are essential in costume shops for efficiency and precision during high-volume production schedules.
A betrayal of romantic commitment, often a catalyst for emotional turmoil and dramatic conflict.
A theatrical character type representing a young, innocent woman, often a romantic interest or naive lead.
The young lovers in Commedia dell’arte, typically portrayed as idealistic and melodramatic, without masks.