Drama KS4 Vocab

Accent

Way of speaking used in a local area or country

Articulation

Clear pronunciation of words

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

Character

Specific person in a drama

Characterisation

The process of fully developing a character

Clarity

Clearness of the voice

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

Diction

The use of clear speech

Dramatic Irony

Actions or remarks whose significance is not realised by all the characters

Evaluate

To judge the strengths and weaknesses of a drama

Exaggeration

Using overstatements in order to create a dramatic effect.

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

Intonation

Rising and falling of voice in speech

Monologue

A character speaks their thoughts aloud

Musical

Drama which includes song and/or music

Narration

Part(s) of the drama are told as a story by a narrator

Pace/rhythm/tempo

The rate at which the action moves along and the extent to which these changes, such as fast to slow or slow to fast. The drama will be more interesting to watch with changes of pace which can also build up the tension. Pace can refer to the speed changes in movement or with the delivery of lines spoken.

Pause

A break in speaking; period of silence

Personal prop

An item carried or worn by a character e.g. glasses, handbag, wallet

Pitch

How high or low the voice is

Playwright

Person who has written the play

Plot

Storyline of the drama

Posture

Position of the body – how it is held

Props

Short for properties – objects used by an actor

Proxemics

A character from the drama stands or sits in the centre of the room. Other students take up positions of distance or closeness to them. The distance represents the relationship between them and how they feel towards one another

Rehearsal

Practice or preparation of a drama

Rehearsed Drama

Devised/created without a script which is rehearsed Improvisation before presentation

Rhythm Movements

Which follow a pattern or beat

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

Scenario

Outline of the plot of a drama, including changes in time or place

Scene

Section of a drama, set in one place at one time

Scenery

Resources used to create the setting where a drama takes place, e.g. backcloth, flats, rostra, furniture

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

Soliloquy

A single lengthy speech, made when no other characters are on stage

Stance

Attitude or position of the body

Status

Importance relative to others

Stimulus

Anything which suggests ideas which can be developed into a drama

Structure

Way in which time, place and action are sequenced

Tableau

A stage picture, held without movement

Target Audience

A specific group of people at whom a drama is aimed

Tension

Build-up of excitement

Thought tracking

An aid to characterisation: the character speaks their thoughts out loud

Tone

Change of voice to express emotion

Tragedy

A drama about unhappy events and with a sad ending

Volume

Loudness or quietness of the voice

FOR ACTORS

Protagonist

The main character.

Antagonist

The bad guy, usually in opposition to the protagonist.

Prologue

A speech that starts the play. This sets the scene, introduces the central characters and location. For example: the opening of Romeo and Juliet.

Epilogue

A speech addressed to the audience about what happens after the play has ended. It can also sum up any loose ends at the closing moments of this play.

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.