GCSE Drama – glossaries for drama, performance, director and

design roles

Glossary of general Drama terms

Term Definition
antagonist the opponent or adversary of the hero or main character of a
drama.
blocking deliberate choices about where the performers stand and how they
move on stage to bring an extract to life. Sometimes known as
staging, however for the purposes of this component, the term
staging will always be used to refer to design elements. See below.
catharsis emotional release felt by the audience at the end of a tragedy; the
audience is set free from the emotional hold of the action, after
sharing in the protagonist’s troubles.
character a person portrayed in a play.
chorus a group of performers who sing, move, or recite in unison/as one.
climax the point of greatest intensity in a series or progression of events in
a play, often forming the turning point of the plot and leading to
some kind of resolution.
comedy a play that treats characters and situations in a humorous way. In
Shakespeare’s time, a comedy was any play with a happy ending
that typically told the story of a likable character’s rise to fortune.
comic relief a break in the tension of a tragedy provided by a comic character, a
comic episode, or even a comic line.
conflict the internal or external struggle between opposing forces, ideas, or
interests that creates dramatic tension.
contrast dynamic use of opposites, such as movement/stillness,
sound/silence, and light/darkness.
dénouement the moment in a drama when the essential plot point is unravelled
or explained.
development progression of the plot or conflict in a play.
dynamic the energetic range of or variations within physical movement or
the difference between levels of sound.
ensemble unified effect achieved by all members of the cast working
together, rather than a focus on individual performances, also be
used to refer to the cast.
exposition the part of a play that introduces the theme, main characters, and
current circumstances.
farce an extreme form of comedy depending on quick tempo and flawless
timing, based on improbable events and farfetched coincidences.
flashback in a non-linear plot, to go back in time to a previous event; a flash
forward would move the action into the future.
form refers to the shape of each individual section or scene e.g.
movement/mime based ensemble scene, duologue, advert,
moments of thought-tracking.
fourth wall the invisible wall of a set through which the audience sees the
action of the play.
genre a French word meaning ‘category’ or ‘type’, e.g. comedy, tragedy,
docudrama, farce, or melodrama.
irony an implied discrepancy between what is said and what is meant.
When the audience perceives something that a character does not
Term Definition
know, that is dramatic irony.
melodrama a style of play, which originated in the 19th century, relying heavily
on sensationalism and sentimentality.
mood the tone or feeling of the play, often established or enhanced or
by production or design elements.
monologue a long speech made by one performer; a monologue may be
delivered alone or in the presence of others.
naturalism drama which attempts to represent real life on stage; actions tend
to be shaped by determinism (societal or environmental forces).
parody a mocking or satirical imitation of a literary or dramatic work.
plot the events and sequences of action within a play, sometimes known
known as narrative or storyline.
protagonist the main character or hero in a play or other literary work.
realism an attempt in theatre to represent everyday life and characters as
they are or appear to be.
resolution how the problem or conflict in a drama is solved or concluded.
role the character portrayed by a performer in a drama.
satire a play in which sarcasm, irony, and ridicule are used to expose or
attack folly or pretension in society.
scene a small section or portion of a play.
setting when and where the action of a play takes place.
stage directions instructions given by the playwright about how a play should be
staged, when actors should make their entrances and exits and
how lines should be delivered.
staging the use of the stage as a design element, considering: choice of
stage; positioning of entrances/exits, set items, stage furniture,
levels; awareness of audience; creating an appropriate space for
performers/audience
style style relates to the chosen theatrical approach e.g. naturalist,
minimalist, Brechtian etc.
stock characters characters who represent particular personality types or
characteristics of human behaviour.
stimulus an object, image, piece of text, music or video that inspires devised
work. (NB: For GCSE NEA purposes this must not be from a play
text).
storyline the plot or sequence of actions within a play.
structure The arrangement of and relationship between the scenes/acts
within a play or piece of devised theatre.
suspense a feeling of uncertainty as to the outcome, used to build interest
and excitement on the part of the audience.
tempo the relative speed or rate of movement/voice/sound. Can be
applied to dramatic contexts such as in ‘tempo rhythm’.
tension anxiety felt by the audience due to a threat to character(s)in the
play.
theatre maker a professional who contributes to a theatrical production such as a
performer, director, or designer.
tragedy a form of drama based on human suffering that invokes in its
audience an accompanying catharsis.
turning point: the climax or high point of a story, when events can go either way.
Performance glossary
(for performers and directors of performers)

Term Definition
acting style a particular manner of acting that reflects cultural and historical
influences.
articulation the clarity or distinction of speech.
aside lines spoken by an performer to the audience and not supposed to
be overheard by other characters on stage.
blocking the path formed by the performer’s movement on stage, usually
determined by the director with assistance from the performer.
characterisation how a performer uses body, voice, and thought to develop and
portray a character.
dialogue spoken conversation used by two or more characters to express
thoughts, feelings, and actions.
focus in acting, the act of concentrating or staying in character.
gesture any movement of the performer’s head, shoulder, arm, hand, leg,
or foot to convey meaning.
improvisation the spontaneous use of movement and speech to create a character
or object in a particular situation; acting done without a script.
inflection change in pitch or loudness of the voice.
interaction the action or relationship among two or more characters.
mime acting without words.
mirroring copying the movement and/or expression or look of another
performer exactly.
motivation the reason or reasons for a character’s behaviour; an incentive or
inducement for further action for a character.
movement stage blocking or the movements of the performers onstage during
performance.
pace the speed of voice or movement are or rate of action.
performance skills skills used by performers including voice/vocal skills,
movement/physical skills, use of space/proxemics and facial
expression/ posture/ non-verbal skills.
pitch the particular level of a voice, instrument or tune.
posture physical alignment of a performer’s body or a physical stance taken
by a performer which conveys information about a character.
proxemics ‘spatial relationships’, between different performers or a performer
and elements of the set.
rhythm measured flow of words or phrases in verse forming patterns of
sound. Regularity in time or space of an action, process or feature.
timbre the distinctive character or quality of a musical or vocal sound apart
from its pitch or intensity, such as in a nasal voice quality.
vocal expression how a performer uses his or her voice to convey character,
voice the combination of vocal qualities an performer uses such as
articulation, phrasing, and pronunciation.
Costume glossary
(for costume designers, and directors considering costume design)

Term Definition
accessories anything carried or worn on top of the basic costume for decorative
purposes, e.g. a purse, shawl.
basic block a pattern which is the starting block for a more detailed pattern
based on a particular performer’s measurements, and reflecting
specifics like historical period.
breaking down artistic process of aging or distressing a costume. Paint, glue, dye,
ripping and tearing can be used in this process.
colour can be used symbolically to suggest character, emotion, theme
costume what a performer wears to evoke the appearance of a particular
character. Costumes maybe realistic or stylised. They may be
‘period’ – appropriate to the historical setting of the play – or
deliberately modern in look, even when the play is set in a past era,
depending on the performance style of the production.
costume plot a list or chart made by the costume designer showing the
characters appearing in each scene, and what they are wearing.
This helps track each character’s whereabouts throughout the
performance.
dresser crew member who aids with dressing.

dress form the adjustable torso (male and female) used by costume cutters,
dressmakers and tailors for creating garments; useful for: creating
shapes from which patterns are made (draping), fitting and detailed
in-place sewing.
dress rehearsal dress full costume/lighting/effects/sound/action rehearsal.

fabric the material from which the costume is constructed.

fittings the process of adjusting the costume to the performer’s body.

gondola an enclosed easily transportable costume rail with removable side

that enables large shows to manage huge quantities of costumes,
wigs etc. easily.
mock-up a full-scale model of a costume, used as a test-run.
muslin a simply woven cotton fabric used to make the costume mock-up,
also called performery cotton or unbleached cotton.
pancake water based stage make up, applied with sponge.
personal props small props that are usually carried in a performer’s costume, such
as money or a pen.
quick change a change of costume that needs to happen very quickly, takes place
close to the side of the stage. Costume for quick changes may be
made using velcro and zips rather than buttons.
seamstress member of the wardrobe department who operates sewing
machines and carries out other sewing tasks.
swatch a sample of fabric to demonstrate the material to use on a costume
or set design, or a sample of lighting gel.
wardrobe the general name for the costume department, its staff and the
accommodation they occupy.
Lighting glossary
(for lighting designers and directors considering lighting design)

Term Definition
baby spot small spotlight under 500 watts.
backlight light coming from upstage, behind scenery or performers, to sculpt
and separate them from the background.
back projection a method of projecting images onto a translucent screen from
behind. Often used for projected scenery or special effects.
bar metal tube used for hanging lanterns.
barn-door a rotatable attachment consisting of two or four metal flaps
(hinged) which is fixed to the front of a Fresnel lantern to cut off
the beam in a particular direction(s).
bifocal spot profile lantern with two sets of shutters, one of which produces a
hard edge, and one a soft edge. Not necessary in zoom profiles,
because this requirement is fulfilled by two lenses.
blackout a lighting cue where all stage lights go off simultaneously.
board abb. for ‘lighting control board’.
build increase light levels.
check decrease light levels.
colour filter a sheet of plastic usually composed of a coloured resin which
creates coloured light on stage. A colour filter is sometimes known
as a Gel, after the animal material Gelatine, from which filters were
originally made.
colour mixing combining the effects of two or more lighting gels.
cross-fade bringing another lighting state up to completely replace the current
lighting state. Sometimes abbreviated to Xfade or XF.
cue lights system of lights used to give ‘Cues’.
cue sheet list of effects.
cyclorama a fabric drop hung from a curved or segmented batten, or a curved
wall at the back of the stage, upon which light can be cast to create
effects (cyc for short).
diffusion gel also called frost – softens light.
downlight a light from directly above the acting area.
fader means of controlling lights .
flash when lights are flashed for effect.
flood to wash the stage with general lighting. The name given to a basic
box-shaped lantern with a simple reflector used to achieve this
effect.
focus The adjustment of lighting/projection equipment and/or the
direction in which it is aimed.
follow spot large profile spotlight with operator.
fresnel adjustable light giving a diffused light, created by the construction
of its lens of ‘concentric circles’.
FX abb. for ‘effects’.
gel coloured lighting film (originally made from gelatine).
gobo metal slide placed in gate of lantern which throws a pattern.
ground row floodlight battens placed on stage.
halogen gas contained in lamps.
heads below warning shouted if anything is dropped from above.
house lights the lights that illuminate the auditorium before and after the
performance and during intermission, used in some performances
e.g. Brechtian ‘shared light’.
kill instruction to stop action or effect.
Term Definition
lantern stage light.
LED LED stage lighting instruments are stage lighting instruments that
use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as a light source. LED instruments
are an alternative to traditional stage lighting instruments which
use halogen lamp or high-intensity discharge lamps.
level intensity of light.
lighting plot lighting cue description.
light set a term used to describe a situation where no physical set is used on
stage. The ‘set’ is created entirely by means of lighting.
master lever/slide which controls all light.
parcan type of lantern containing a fixed beam par lamp.
profile spot lantern which can produce hard or soft light.
shutter device in lantern used to shape beam.
spill unwanted light on the stage.
spot abbreviation of spotlight; a bright beam of light projected onto a
performance space.
strobe flashing light.
UV abbreviation of Ultra Violet.
wash a general ‘fill’ of light and colour across the stage.
working lights lights used by stage crew to aid work.
Set glossary
(for set designers and directors considering set design)

Term Definition
act drop cloth flown in at the end of an act.
back projection a method of projecting images onto a translucent screen from
behind. Often used for projected scenery or special effects.
book flat a hinged flat.
box set a set with three walls and a ceiling, leaving the fourth wall open,
representing a real room with doors and windows that work.
breaking down artistic process of aging costume, props or scenery.
cloth a piece of scenic canvas, painted or plain, which is flown or fixed to
hang in a vertical position:
- a backcloth (or backdrop) hangs at the rear of a scene
- a floorcloth is a painted canvas sheet placed on the stage floor
to mark out the acting area, or to achieve a particular effect
- a frontcloth hangs downstage, often to mask a scene change.
colour can be used symbolically to suggest mood, emotion, theme or to
create a sense of location.
curtains at front of stage – called tabs.
curtain up/down beginning and end of performance.
cyclorama a fabric drop hung from a curved or segmented batten, or a curved
wall at the back of the stage, upon which light can be cast to create
effects (cyc for short).
EMU Electrical Multiple Unit, used to describe stage machinery composed
from multiple moving parts.
flat a wooden frame, usually covered with painted cloth, used to create
walls or separations on stage.
flies area above stage where flown scenery is kept.
gauze see ‘scrim’.
grid metal frames in flying tower from which flying equipment is held
(wooden in very old theatres).
ground-plan technical drawing of stage.
jack-knife stage set consisting of one or more wheeled rostra, which are fixed at one
corner point, enabling the platform to pivot to reveal a different
set/scene or to appear on stage or move offstage.
light set a term used to describe a situation where no physical set is used on
stage. The ‘set’ is created entirely by means of lighting.
lose to remove from set.
materials that the set items are or appear to be composed from eg window
panes may be made of Perspex to represent glass, from health and
safety considerations.
mask to hide from audience’s sight.
masking flats/cloths used to mask parts of the set/stage from the audience.
platform also referred to as a rostrum it is a stationary, flat walking surface
for performers, used to provide varying levels, to make a show
more visually interesting, to separate areas on stage, and as
seating.
practical a working object onstage, such as a door or window.
pre-set position of scenery/ stage furniture at start of performance/scene.
platform stage acting area raised from the floor either in a non-theatre space or in
an unusual part of a theatre space.
Term Definition
revolve turntable built into the stage floor on which scenery can be set and
then driven into view. A partial revolve with a stationary centre
section is known as a doughnut revolve.
rostrum portable platform, usually in the form of a collapsible hinged
framework (gate) with a separate top (lid). Plural – rostra.
scenery the theatrical equipment, such as curtains, flats, backdrops, or
platforms, used in a production to create location/environment.
scenic artists people who paint scenery.
scrim (or gauze) a drop made of fabric that seems almost opaque when lit from the
front but semi-transparent when lit from behind.
set the physical surroundings, visible to the audience, in which the
action of the play takes place.
sightlines imaginary lines of sight that determine what areas of the stage are
visible to the audience from any given seat in the house.
stage crew employed to move/operate scenery.
staging the use of the stage as a design element, considering: choice of
stage; positioning of entrances/exits, set items, stage furniture,
levels; awareness of audience; creating an appropriate space for
performers/audience.
strike to remove object or scenery from stage.
swag curtains fashioned so they do not hang straight.
tabs Curtains.
truck platform with wheels on which a piece of scenery is built to
facilitate scene changing – also known as a wagon.
wagon stage mechanised stage where the scenery is moved into position on
large sliding trucks (wagons) as wide as the proscenium opening,
from the side/rear of the main stage, allowing complex scene
changes to occur almost instantly.
Sound glossary
(for sound designers and directors of sound design)

Term Definition
amp abbreviation amplifier used to amplify sound.
build increase sound levels.
channel connected circuit in sound system.
check decrease sound levels.
condenser type of microphone.
cross-fade bringing another sound state up to replace the current sound state.
diegetic sound sound heard by characters on stage e.g. music played on a radio on
the set.
feedback when a mic picks up its own signal from a speaker.
float mics microphones placed along front of stage.
FX abb. for ‘effects’.
level intensity of sound.
non-diegetic sound sound NOT heard by the actors and designed to create
mood/atmosphere/impact on the audience e.g. emotional
underscore.
PA system the public address system or any sound system.
pan to move sound from one place to another.
radio mic personal microphone without power lead.
sound the effects an audience hears during a performance to
communicate character, context, or environment.
sound design the three categories of sound design, are:
1. functional (e.g. practical sounds such as a gunshot to coincide
with an action on stage)
2. atmospheric (i.e. using underscoring that may include music,
or a pre-recorded soundscape)
3. incidental where sound can be used to cover moments of
transition (e.g. between scenes or to cover scene changes).
sound effects 1) Recorded: often abbreviated to FX. May form an obvious part of
the action (train arriving at station) or may be in the background
throughout a scene (e.g. birds chirping).
2) Live: gunshots, door slams, and offstage voices (amongst many
others) are most effective when done live.
soundscape sound that runs under a scene, to help establish the world of the
play, to immerse the audience in that world and/or to heighten
emotion. This can be created using recorded and or live sound.
surround sound any sound system where sound can appear to be all around the
audience is said to be surround sound. Theatre sound systems
often use localised speakers near each bank of seating.
volume the level at which a sound effect or piece of music will be played.
Props/Stage furniture Glossary
(for designers of props/ stage furniture and directors considering props/ stage
furniture)

Term Definition
block wooden cuboid box used as stage furniture in non-naturalistic
performances.
breaking down artistic process of aging costume, props or scenery.
colour can be used symbolically to suggest style/setting/theme.
dressing adding props (some practical) and/ or furnishings to a stage setting
is known as dressing the set.
ground-plan technical drawing of stage.
hand props properties such as tools, weapons, or luggage that are carried on
stage by an individual performer.
materials that the stage furniture is or appears to be composed from e.g. a
statue made of painted Styrofoam as a practical alternative to
stone.
personal props properties belonging to a specific character and therefore handled
by that actor or kept in the actor’s costume.
props abb. for Properties. Furnishings, set dressings, and all items large
and small which cannot be classified as scenery, electrics or
wardrobe.
prop box/skip place to store props.
prop table table situated in wings on which props are placed.
props room room for construction of props.
platform also referred to as a riser or rostrum it is a stationary, standard
flat walking surface for performers to perform on, used to provide
varying levels, to make a show more visually interesting, to
separate areas on stage, and/or as seating.
practical a working object onstage, such as a door or window.
preset position of scenery/ stage furniture at start of performance/scene.
rostrum portable platform, usually in the form of a collapsible hinged
framework (gate) with a separate top (lid). Plural – rostra.
stage crew employed to move/operate stage furniture
stage furniture elements of the production that can be used/moved but cannot be
defined as personal props e.g. chair, table, block. Can also be
written about to support set design.
strike to remove object or scenery from stage.
style the style of stage furniture chosen to enhance the production, e.g.
by replicating a specific historical period. Stage furniture design,
will often relate to the performance style, e.g. ‘slice of life’,
representational.
Staging glossary
(for staging designers and directors of staging)

Term Definition
apron the area between the front curtain and the edge of the stage.
arena stage type of stage without a frame or arch separating the stage from the
auditorium, in which the audience surrounds the stage area.
auditorium the part of the theatre accommodating the audience during the
performance, also known as the ‘house’.
black box a one-room theatre, without a proscenium arch; interior is painted
black, including walls, floor, and ceiling, and any drapes are also
black.
centre-stage the centre point on a stage.
down-stage the front part of the stage, in front of the centre stage area, close
to the audience.
entrance part of the set through which actors can walk onto the stage.
end on traditional audience seating layout where the audience is looking at
the stage from the same direction. This seating layout is that of a
Proscenium Arch theatre.
exit part of the set through which actors can leave the stage.
fourth wall the invisible wall of a set through which the audience sees the
action of the play.
ground-plan technical drawing of the stage.
promenade a theatrical production with the expectation that audience members
will predominantly walk or move about (rather than sit).
proscenium a frame or arch separating the stage from the auditorium, creating
a picture frame or an imaginary fourth wall through which the
audience experienced the illusion of spying on characters.
sightlines imaginary lines of sight that determine what areas of the stage are
visible to the audience from any given seat in the house.
site-specific any type of theatrical production designed to be performed at a
unique, specially adapted location other than a standard theatre.
stage left the left side of the stage for an actor standing facing the audience.
stage right the right side of the stage for an actor standing facing the audience.
staging the use of the stage as a design element, considering: choice of
stage; positioning of entrances/exits, set items, stage furniture,
levels; awareness of audience; creating an appropriate space for
performers/audience.
in-the-round an acting area or stage that may be viewed from all sides
simultaneously.
thrust a stage that extends into the audience area, with seats on three
sides of a peninsula-shaped acting space.
traverse form of staging where the audience is on either side of the acting
area.
up-stage the back part of the stage, behind the centre stage area, further
away from the audience.