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Writing a One-Act Play
Introduction
A one-act play is shorter than a full-length play, but longer than a typical short (10-15 minute) play. How do we navigate this mid-length? This guide will describe typical story structure and strategies for crafting a one-act play.
Terminology
Intermission: a break in between the acts of a play.
Aristotelian Unities: a philosophy crafted by Aristotle which suggests that a well-made play has one main story, takes place in a compact amount of time, and has one setting.
Monologue: a long speech by one actor in a play.
Genre: a style or category of performance art.
Context & Analysis
Preparation
One-act plays typically run about forty-five minutes to a little over an hour long, although they can be a little shorter or a little longer. There are a number of reasons you may decide to write your play as a one-act: your story may be more simple and self-contained. Perhaps you’re just starting out in playwriting and you want to get some experience
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Kevan Dunkelberg
Oklahoma-based drama teacher, actor and playwright