Drama Glossary
Key theatre terms and definitions including related shows.
A trickster spider character from West African folklore who appears in theatrical storytelling and educational plays.
A political figure rejecting authority, often appearing in revolutionary or protest-based theatre.
An ancestor is a person from whom one is descended. In theatre, the term may appear in plays dealing with family heritage, legacy, or traditional beliefs, especially in cultural or historical works.
A British movement of the 1950s featuring working-class protagonists rebelling against social norms.
A musical line that moves in large, disjointed intervals rather than smooth, stepwise motion, creating tension or instability.
A strong feeling of hostility between characters that drives dramatic tension and conflict.
Anon' is an archaic English term meaning “soon” or “shortly.” It is often encountered in the dialogue of English Renaissance plays such as those by Shakespeare.
The antagonist is a character who opposes the protagonist and creates conflict within the story. They are not always villains but are critical to the development of dramatic tension.
Prejudice against Jewish people, explored in dramatic works to reveal social injustices and historical persecution.
An anti-hero is a central character who lacks traditional heroic qualities such as morality, bravery, or idealism. Often flawed and complex, anti-heroes appear frequently in modern drama and literature.
An object of historical value, used on stage to signify memory, status, or passage of time in realistic and symbolic plays.
The response section of an ancient Greek choral ode, following the strophe and preceding the epode.