Drama Glossary
Key theatre terms and definitions including related shows.
A vocal music composition, usually written for one voice with piano accompaniment, often drawing from poetry and emphasizing expression and interpretation.
The clear and precise pronunciation of words, vital for actor intelligibility and effective vocal performance.
The deliberate use of stylized, non-naturalistic elements in theatre to emphasize that the production is a constructed artistic creation.
Creative choices made by directors, designers, actors, and playwrights that shape the interpretation and presentation of a theatrical work.
A written declaration of artistic principles or intentions, often guiding avant-garde or political theatre movements.
A heavy, fire-resistant stage curtain historically made with asbestos to protect the audience from stage fires.
A dramatic device where a character speaks directly to the audience or to themselves, unheard by other characters onstage.
Abbreviation for Assistant Stage Manager. A crew member who supports the stage manager in organizing rehearsals, managing props, and running performances.
A dramatic event involving a political or symbolic killing, often central to tragedy or historical plays.
A dramatic theme involving cultural adaptation or loss of identity, explored in works about immigration and heritage.
A mental institution used in theatre to examine societal treatment of mental illness and the boundaries of sanity.
A form of early Roman comedy featuring stock characters and improvisation, considered a precursor to Commedia dell’arte.