Drama KS3 Vocab
Accent
Way of speaking used in a local area or country
Audience
People watching a performance
Backstage
Non-acting area behind the stage
Balance
Keeping an even distribution of weight
Blocking
Deciding where and when actors will move on stage
Body Language
Messages given by the position or movement of the body
Centre Stage (CS)
The centre area of the stage
Centre Stage Left
The left-hand centre side of the acting area as the actor faces (CSL) the audience
Centre Stage Right
The right-hand centre side of the acting area as the actor (CSR) faces the audience
Character
Specific person in a drama
Characterisation
The process of fully developing a character
Comedy
A drama which is funny/comical
Costume
Clothes worn by actors for their character
Creating
The process of developing a drama’s content and roles through practical exploration, experimentation and problem solving
Dialogue
A conversation between two or more characters
Down Stage Centre
The middle part of the stage nearest the audience (DSC)
Down Stage Left
The part of the stage nearest the audience on the left as the actor (DSL) faces the audience
Down Stage Right
The part of the stage nearest the audience on the right as the actor (DSR) faces the audience
Emphasis
The stress on a word or phrase
Exaggeration
Using overstatements in order to create a dramatic effect.
Facial expression
Look on face which shows emotion
Flashback
Acting out an event in the past
Flashforward
Acting out of a future or imagined even
Focus
Key moment, scene, character, relationship or event in a drama
Freeze frame
The action is frozen in time
Gesture
Movement of the hand or arm which communicates a meaning or emotion
Masks
Covering for all, or part, of the face
Mime
Creating a play without words, your body language and gestures should reveal what you are doing, how you are feeling.
Monologue
A character speaks their thoughts aloud
Movement
Use of the body as a means of communication
Musical
Drama which includes song and/or music
Narration
Part(s) of the drama are told as a story by a narrator
Pantomime
Theatrical entertainment usually based on a fairy tale
Pause
A break in speaking; period of silence
Performance
Presentation of a drama to an audience
Personal prop
An item carried or worn by a character e.g. glasses, handbag, wallet
Pitch
How high or low the voice is
Play
Another word for a drama
Plot
Storyline of the drama
Posture
Position of the body – how it is held
Presenting
The results of the Creating process, including performance and evaluation
Props
Short for properties – objects used by an actor
Proscenium Arch Stage
Within an enclosing arch
Rehearsal
Practice or preparation of a drama
Role Part
Played by an actor / attitude adopted
Role-play
A means of exploring attitudes and beliefs
Rostra
Blocks or platforms used to create levels
Script
The written words of a drama
Set (1)
Scenery used to show where a drama takes place
Set (2)
To place a drama in a certain time or place
Set prop
An item placed on the set, usually part of it e.g. a lamp, clock, picture
Sight lines
What the audience sees of the stage from where they are sitting
Slow motion
Movement performed at a slowed down speed
Stage directions
Written or spoken advice on how to act a drama
Staging
The position of the acting area relative to the audience
Status
Importance relative to others
Stereotype
An exaggerated portrayal of a type of person
Structure
Way in which time, place and action are sequenced
Tableau
A stage picture, held without movement
Tension
Build-up of excitement
Theatre in the round
Audience seated all around the acting area
Thought tracking
An aid to characterisation: the character speaks their thoughts out loud
Thrust
Audience seated on three sides of the acting area
Timing
Speaking, moving or pausing at exactly the right moment
Tone
Change of voice to express emotion
Tragedy
A drama about unhappy events and with a sad ending
Up Stage Centre (USC)
The middle part of the stage furthest away from the audience
Up Stage Left (USL)
The left-hand part of the stage furthest away from the audience as the actor faces the audience
Up Stage Right (USR)
The right-hand part of the stage furthest away from the audience as the actor faces the audience
Volume
Loudness or quietness of the voice
FOR ACTORS
Protagonist
The main character.
Antagonist
The bad guy, usually in opposition to the protagonist.
Chorus
A person or group of people with a narrative function. Originated from Greek Theatre. These members of the chorus could give/offer advice to the main protagonist.
Improvisation
Making something up by using whatever is immediately to hand; your own ideas.
