Drama Glossary
Key theatre terms and definitions including related shows.
A form of self-referential drama where the play draws attention to its own theatricality. This device challenges the audience’s suspension of disbelief and is used in Epic Theatre and postmodern works.
Short for mezzo-soprano, a female voice type that sits between soprano and contralto, common in opera and musical theatre.
A small-scale representation of a larger concept, often used in plays to explore universal themes through confined settings.
A region in central England that contributed significantly to industrial development and working-class theatre traditions.
A dramatic pose struck by Kabuki actors to highlight emotional intensity, often held with stylized eye movement and stillness.
A generational label explored in contemporary theatre to examine values, anxiety, and identity in modern life.
A costume artisan who specializes in making hats and headpieces. Milliners are essential to period productions and character-specific wardrobe elements.
A form of silent performance that uses body movement and facial expression to convey character and narrative without speech.
A theatrical style that emphasizes simplicity in staging and dialogue to focus attention on core themes and performance.
A design approach that uses simple sets and costumes to shift focus onto performers and ideas. The bare stage, gray suits, and chain curtain in American Utopia reflect this minimalist aesthetic, emphasizing movement and music over spectacle.
Historically, a medieval performer of songs and tales; in the U.S., associated with racist 19th-century blackface performance.
Medieval religious dramas that portrayed the lives and miracles of saints, often performed in churches or public squares.