1. Elements of Drama

2. What is a play?
Books and short stories tell a story using such elements as themes, characters, plots, and settings. Like these things, plays also tell a story.
But a Play is a story written to be performed. The story is told through the conversation and actions of the characters.

3. Elements of Drama & Drama Vocabulary
Playwright
Script
Acts and Scenes
Cast of Characters
Dialogue
Plot
Setting and Set
Stage Directions
Narrator
Intermission
Theme
Skit
Sound effects
Props

4. Playwrights and Scripts
Playwright- The person who writes a play
A Script -The written form of a play

5. Script A Script is the written play.
Besides the elements of the play, a script may have special instructions or additional suggestions for the successful production of the play.
It may give some biographical information about the author.

6. Acts and Scenes
In a book, the story is divided into chapters. Plays are broken up into Acts and Scenes.
Acts – a plays main parts
Scene – a smaller part of an act. A new scene usually begins. When the setting—either the time or the place or both—changes,

7. Cast of Characters
A list of the plays characters. Sometimes there will be a description of the character
Characters:
Narrator/Beth Ralph
Mother Ollie
Father Claude
Charlie Mrs. Wendleken
Imogene Leroy
Alice

8. Dialogue
The talking or conversation between characters. A speech tag shows who is speaking.
Dialogue reveals the plot and theme of the play.

9. Plot The action of the play (series of events).
Exposition – begins the play (characters and setting are introduced), problem introduced
Rising Action – problem gets worse
Climax – a point of high tension
Falling Action – the conflict starts to resolve
Resolution – the ending is explained; the outcome is decided

10. Setting vs. Set
Setting: Place and time in which the play takes place; stage directions will name/describe the setting
Set- is the construction on stage that suggests the time and place

11. Stage Directions Tell how a play should be performed
List of characters, props, costumes
Descriptions of settings, lighting, music, sound
Details on how the actors should move, speak, behave

12. Theme
A statement or lesson about life around which a play is written is called a Theme.

13. Narrator
A play may also include a Narrator. A narrator speaks from the side and gives important information and insights, but is not part of the action.

14. Intermission Intermission, a short break for the actors and audience.
An intermission gives an audience a chance to stretch their legs, and allows scenery and costume changes for the cast. When the setting—either the time or the place or both—changes, a new scene usually begins.

15. Skits
Plays can also be very short, only five minutes or so. Those plays are called Skits.
A Skit is often used to make a point or to introduce another activity.

16. Visual
The productions you see on television, the movie screen, DVDs, or on stages all start with a script.
A playwright and a director must often be very creative in suggesting a setting or time period.

17. Sound Effects
Sound in a play used to help it seem more real and help create the mood.

18. Prop
The Moveable objects on Set