Glossary of Drama Terms

Facial Expression

Using my face to communicate thoughts and feelings to the audience.

Body Language

Using my body position and gestures to communicate meaning to the audience.

Use of Space

How I and my fellow performers arrange ourselves in the space or on the stage to communicate meaning to the audience.

Writing in Role

Writing as if it is my character writing the words, not myself.

Vocal Expression

Changing the tone, pitch and volume of my voice to communicate meaning to the audience.

Role on the Wall

Attaching a piece of paper to the wall or board and filling in character details in the form of words or pictures.

Focus

My ability as a performer to remain concentrated during the dramatic action.

Mime

When I act out a story line or situation through movement and gesture without the character speaking.

Frozen Picture

Also called a Freeze Frame or Still Image. When we form a 3-dimensional image from our bodies. The action is frozen like a photograph. The image should tell the audience about our characters and the situation we are in.

Character Timeline

Writing a history for my character from birth to present day to help develop my understanding of them.

Tableau

The whole class forms a large frozen picture in which different incidents are portrayed within the same large event.

Mantle of the Expert

When hot seating someone, even the people asking the questions are in role as other characters.

Hot Seating

In role and without preparation, I answer questions about my character and his or her circumstances.

Improvisation

Devising and acting out a story line with little preparation.

Teacher in Role

When the teacher takes a central part in our role-play.

Slow Motion

When a particular moment is slowed down in order to emphasise its importance to the audience.

Gesture

A movement made with the arms/ hands to express a feeling or communicate an emotion.

Angel & Devil

When two actors play the roles of the Angel and the Devil, to show the audience the 'good' and 'bad' thoughts that a character is having about a problem that they have.

Narration

When I tell the story directly to the audience.

Essence Machine

A short machine-like piece of drama made up of vocal and physical elements that capture the essence of a particular theme or activity to help build tension.

Thought Tunnel

When a tunnel formation is created and a character walks down or along the tunnel, the other actors voice their thoughts.

Monologue

A speech spoken by one character to another/ other character/s.

Split Scene

Where one scene is split into 2 or more scenes and linked together either with speech, a sound, a gesture, a frozen image to show different moments that are taking place at the same time or to show different points of view.

Addressing the Audience

When a character speaks directly to the audience. Sometimes as if the audience is playing a character in the performance.

Soliloquy

A speech spoken by one character to themselves.

Duologue

An interaction of dialogue between two characters.

Dialogue

Speaking or speech.

Aside

A character speaks a thought directly to the audience whilst the action is still taking place.

Voices in the Head

When several actors are used to express the thoughts of another character to show their inner torment/ dilemma and to help create tension.

Thought Aloud

A character speaks a thought for the audiences benefit to show how they are really feeling about a situation or another character.

In the Round

Where the audience sits around the stage.

Symbolism

Where an object or gesture or sound is used to represent something else.

End on

Where the audience sits at one end facing the action.

Spotlight

Bringing to life a small moment within a tableau or showing some work in progress.

Traverse

Where the audience sits on either side of the action.