ELEMENTS OF DRAMA

WHAT IS DRAMA?
Adrama, or a play, is a piece of writing that is presented almost
exclusively through dialogue. Like a short story or novel, it has a
setting, characters, plot, and even symbolism.

Form of literature acted out by performers.

Dramais the specificmode offictionrepresentedinperformance.The
term comes from aGreekword meaning "action" (Classical
Greek:,drama), which is derived from "to do" (Classical
Greek:,drao).

The two masks associated with drama

represent the traditionalgenericdivision
betweencomedyandtragedy.

6 ELEMENTS OF DRAMA
ACT
The units of the action, usually divided into parts
Anactis a division or unit of atheatrework, including

aplay,film,opera, andmusical theatre. The number of acts in

theatrical work can range from one to five or more, depending on
how the writer structures the story. Thedurationof an act usually
ranges from 30 to 90 minutes, but may be as short as 10 minutes.

Major division in the action of a play, accommodating changes in

time, setting, character(s), mood. Acts are further divided into
scenes.

Scene
Changes when the location of the action shifts
or when a new character enters.

Characterizationor characterisation
is the concept of creatingcharactersfor a narrative.
It is a literaryelementand may be employed
indramaticworks of art or everyday
conversation.Charactersmay be presented by
means of description, through their actions, speech,
thoughts and interactions with othercharacters

There are two ways anauthorcan convey information

about a character:
Directorexplicit characterization

The author literally tells the audience what a

character is like. This may be done via thenarrator,
another character or by the character themselves.

Indirectorimplicit characterization

The audience must infer for themselves what the

character is like through the character's thoughts,
actions, speech (choice of words, way of talking),
physical appearance, mannerisms and interaction
with other characters, including other characters'
reactions to that particular person.

Stagecraft
is the technical aspect of theatrical, film, and video production. It
includes constructing and rigging scenery, hanging and focusing
of lighting, design and procurement of costumes, makeup,
procurement ofprops, stage management, and recording and
mixing of sound.

the "lines" (words, facial expressions, body language) "spoken" by

characters in a drama or fiction intended to convey intent, feeling,
action or thought.

the art and craft of establishing the physical environment of a

production

 Stagecraft comprises many disciplines, typically divided into

a number of main disciplines:

Lighting:Lighting design, which involves the process of

determining the angle, size, intensity, shape, and color of

light for a given scene. Hanging, focusing, procurement and
maintenance of lighting andspecial effectsequipment,
aspects ofshow control

Make-up/Wigs: The application of makeup and wigs to

accentuate an actor's features.

 Mechanics: Design, engineering and operation

ofFlownscenery or flying of performers and mechanised
scenic elements and special effects.

Production, comprisingstage management,production

management,show control,house
managementandcompany management

Scenery, which includesset construction,scenic

painting,theater drapes and stage curtains, andspecial

effects.

 Sound design, which can include musicalunderscoring,

vocal and instrumentmixingas well as theatricalsound
effects.

Theatrical property, or props, which includes furnishings,

set dressings, and all items large and small which cannot
be classified as scenery, electrics or wardrobe. Some
crossover may apply. Props handled by actors are known as
hand props, and props which are kept in an actor's
costume are known as personal props.

 Wardrobe:costume design,construction,
procurement and maintenance.

Video(orProjection) is a relatively recent field of

stagecraft which is gaining recognition. As well as

being a discipline in itself, its role may also be taken
on by theLightingorScenerydisciplines.

Audience
a gathering of spectators or listeners at a (usually
public) performance

DIALOGUE
- CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE CHARACTERS
Identifies the characters for the audience.
Reveals character relationship
Carries the story along
Stimulates the audience to emotion and ideas.
The verbal exchanges between characters.

TYPES OF STAGES

PROSCENIUM STAGE
Aproscenium(Greek:) is the metaphorical
vertical plane of space in atheatre, usually surrounded on the
top and sides by a physicalproscenium arch(whether or not
truly "arched") and on the bottom by the stage floor itself,
which serves as the frame into which the audience observes
from a more or less unified angle the events taking place upon
thestageduring a theatrical performance. The concept of
thefourth wall of the theatre stage space that faces the
audience is essentially the same.

THRUST STAGE
athrust stage(also known as aplatform stageoropen
stage)is one that extends into the audience on three sides
and is connected to the backstage area by itsupstageend. A
thrust has the benefit of greater intimacy between
performers and the audience than aproscenium, while
retaining the utility of a backstage area. Entrances onto a
thrust are most readily made from backstage, although some
theatres provide for performers to enter through the
audience usingvomitoryentrances.

IN-THE-ROUND STAGE
Theatre-in-the-roundorarena theatre(also referred
ascentral staging) is anytheatrespace in which the
audience surrounds the stage area.

A central stage surrounded by audience on all sides. The

stage area is often raised to improve sightlines.

TRAVERSE STAGE
Atraverse stageis a form of theatricalstagein which the
audience is predominantly on two sides of thestage, facing
towards each other. Thestageis also commonly known as
an alley or corridorstage.

TYPES OF DRAMA

 Comedy Comedies are lighter in tone than ordinary writers,

and provide a happy conclusion. The intention of dramatists
in comedies is to make theiraudiencelaugh. Hence, they
use quaint circumstances, unusual characters and witty
remarks.

Example 1

Much Ado About Nothingis the most frequently performed Shakespearian

comedy. The play is romantically funny in that love between Hero and Claudio is
laughable, as they never even get a single chance to communicate on-stage until
they get married. Their relationship lacks development and depth. They end up
merely as caricatures, exemplifying what people face in life when their relationships
are internally weak. Love ove between Benedick and Beatrice is amusing, as initially
their communications are very sparky, and they hate each other. However, they all
of sudden make up, and start loving each other.

 Tragedy Tragic dramas use darker themes such as

disaster, pain and death. Protagonists often have atragic

flawa characteristic that leads them to their downfall.

Example 2
Sophocles mythical and immortal drama,Oedipus Rex,is
thought to be his best classical tragedy. Aristotle has adjudged
this play as one of the greatest examples of tragic drama in his
book, Poeticsby giving following reasons: The play arouses
emotions ofpityandfear, and achieves the tragickatharsis.

 It shows the downfall of an extraordinary man of

high rank, Oedipus.

The central character suffers due to his tragic error

calledhamartia; as he murders his real father, Laius,

and then marries his real mother, Jocasta.

Hubrisis the cause of Oedipus downfall

 Farce Generally, a farce is a nonsensicalgenreof drama,

which often overacts or engages slapstickhumor.

Example 3
Oscar Wildes play,The Importance of Being Earnest, is a very popular
example of Victorian farce. In this play, a man uses two identities; one as a
serious person Jack (his actual name) that he uses for Cesily, his ward, and
as a rogue named Ernest for his beloved woman, Gwendolyn. Unluckily,
Gwendolyn loves him partially because she loves the name Ernest. It is
when Jack and Earnest must come on-stage together for Cesily, then
Algernon comes in to play Earnest role, and ward immediately falls in love
with another Ernest. Thus, two young women think that they love the same
man an occurrence that amuses the audience.

 Melodrama

Melodrama is an exaggerated drama, which is

sensational and appeals directly to the senses of audience.
Just like the farce, the characters are of single dimension and
simple, or may be stereotyped.

Example 4

The Heiressis based on Henry James novel theWashington

Square.Directed for stage performance by William Wyler, this play shows
an ungraceful and homely daughter of a domineering and rich doctor falling
in love with a young man, Morris Townsend wishes to elope with him, but he
leaves her in lurch. Author creates melodrama towards the end, when
Catherine teaches a lesson to Morris and leaves him instead.