Literary, Technical, & Performance Elements of Drama Literary, Technical, & Performance

Literary Elements The storyline or plot is what happens in the play. Each plot has a beginning, middle, and end. The setting is where and when the story takes place. The characters are the people or animals played by actors. The conflict is the problem that the characters have in the play.

Technical Elements Costumes are the clothing and additional items that actors wear during the play. Makeup is any powder, paint, wig, or mask worn by an actor during the play. The scenery is the collection of decorations, such as backgrounds, on the set. It lets the audience know where and when the play takes place.

Technical Elements Props, or properties, are all items on stage, except the scenery. Set props include large items like furniture. Hand props are objects actors use during the play. Sound effects are sounds, such as thunder and birds chirping, added to make the play seem more realistic. Music can also be added to a performance. The music should match the mood, place, and characters in the play.

Performance Elements Acting is the process actors use to make the characters in the play seem real. Speaking includes vocal expression (the mood actors demonstrate when saying their lines), projection (the way actors control their breaths and push their voices), speaking style (how actors say their lines), and diction (clearly saying words).

Performance Elements Nonverbal expression includes gestures, facial expressions, and movements that actors use to communicate, without talking. Developing a character means using the performance elements to turn the character into someone the audience will believe.