DRAMA The time and place in which the play occurs,
providing context for the story.
DRAMA VS. PLAY Influences the mood, atmosphere, and characters'
A Glimpse into History behaviors and interactions.
PLAY Can be represented through physical sets, props
Originated in ancient Greece around 5th century and stage design.
BC, with tragedy and comedy as the main forms. 6. Conflict
Developed and diversified into various genres The struggle between opposing forces that drives
over centuries. the plot forward.
Modern plays experiment with form and content, Can be internal (within a character) or external
moving away from traditional structures. (between characters or societal forces).
DRAMA Conflict creates tension and is essential for
Drama, as a literary form, originated even earlier character development and thematic exploration.
than plays, in ritual and religious ceremonies. 7. Dramatic structure
The evolution of drama has been expansive, The framework that organizes the plot into a
influencing and being influenced by culture, coherent narrative.
society, and technology. Common structures include linear, non-linear,
WHAT IS A PLAY? and episodic formats.
refers to a work of drama, a written composition, Helps to build tension and guide the audience
intended for performance in a theater. A play is a through the emotional journey of the play.
blueprint for production, detailing characters, 8. Genre
dialogues, and instructions for staging, commonly The category or style of the play, such as tragedy,
known as stage directions. comedy, drama, or musical.
In essence, a play is like a recipe: the playwright Influences the tone, themes, and audience
provides the ingredients and directions, while the expectations.
director and the actors contribute the actual Understanding genre helps in analyzing the
cooking process, combining all elements into a conventions and techniques used by playwrights.
theatrical feast for the audience. 9. Staging
WHAT IS A DRAMA? The physical arrangement of actors, sets, and
Drama is a genre of literature that involves telling props on stage.
a story through dialogue and action, primarily Affects how the story is presented and perceived
intended for theatrical performance. by the audience.
ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF DRAMA Includes elements like blocking, lighting, and
1. Plot sound design, which enhance the overall
The sequence of events that make up the story in experience.
a play. 10. Audience
Typically follows a structure: exposition, rising The group of people who watch and interpret the
action, climax, falling action, and resolution. play.
Engages the audience by creating suspense and Their reactions and interpretations can vary based
emotional investment in the characters' journeys. on personal experiences and cultural
2. Character backgrounds.
The individuals who drive the plot and embody Understanding the audience is crucial for
the themes of the play. playwrights and directors to create impactful
Can be complex (round) or simple (flat), with theatre.
distinct traits and motivations. GENRES OF DRAMA
Character development is crucial for audience 1. Comedy - Is a genre that consists of discourses or
connection an understanding of the narrative. works intended to be humorous or amusing by
3. Theme inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up
The underlying message or central idea explored comedy, television, radio, books, or any other
in the play. entertainment medium.
Can address universal concepts such as love, 2. Farce - Is a type of dramatic comedy. Its primary goal
power, identity, and morality. is to entertain the audience by making them laugh.
Themes often emerge through the characters' 3. Tragedy - Is a serious drama that ends with an
experiences and conflicts. unhappy outcome, often involving death or suffering.
4. Dialogue 4. Tragicomedy- When you combine the elements of a
The spoken exchanges between characters that comedy and a tragedy, you get a tragicomedy.
reveal their personalities and advance the plot. Tragicomedies are more complex than a drama with a
Can convey subtext, emotions, and relationships, few jokes, or a comedy with a serious scene.
enhancing the audience's understanding. MAIN THEMES:
Effective dialogue is essential for pacing and A serious plot delivered in a funny, sarcastic,
maintaining engagement. or snarky manner.
Characters with tragic flaws whose acts do not
5. Setting result in death.
A confusing subject Characters with broad 1. Character list- includes names, ages, and
personalities that act in stereotypically descriptions of the characters.
humorous ways. 2. Stage directions- Written in italics and brackets
There is no joyful or funny conclusion. 3. Page numbering- each page is numbered
4. Act/scene designations- each act and scene is clearly
5. Melodrama- Melodramas are an exaggerated kind of marked
drama in literature, in which conventional one- An act is a major division of a play, while a
dimensional characters such as heroes, heroines, and scene is a smaller subdivision within an act
villains contend with exciting, passionate, and that usually marks a change in setting or
frequently deadly situations. characters.
MAIN THEMES 5. Setting description- describes the location of the
Character clichés include heroes, heroines, action
villains, mentors, and so on. 6. Dialogue- is what characters say when they speak to
Romantic or sombre stories with sweeping arcs one another.
Plots and events that are larger-than-life (or very 7. Blackout/curtain/end designations- marks the
small stories told in big ways) beginning and end of acts and action
Character reactions are exaggerated
Clearly defined literary topics
Character flaws must be overcome in order to
attain a resolution Ending that is sometimes
cheerful and sometimes sad
6. Opera- an opera is a type of drama where the actors
sing the lines or dialogues instead of speaking them.
MAIN THEMES:
Arias, which are actually musical soliloquies.
Plot-driving sequences that may or may not be
melodious
A libretto (text) that has been turned to music.
Tragic, comic, or melodramatic subject matter
May have a dancing aspect, but mostly depends
upon vocal performances
Set design, costume design, and production
7. Musical Drama- musicals are different from opera.
While lines in opera are sung, dialogues in musicals
are infused with music and performances.
MAIN THEMES:
Firstly songs break up periods of conventional
plot.
Characters frequently sing in unison to express
their emotions.
Songs as plot-altering devices
Storylines that be dramatic or hilarious
A memorable and unique musical score
Frequently a lot of singing and dancing.
PLAYSCRIPT
A playscript is a written document that contains the
dialogue, characters, setting, and stage directions for a
theatrical performance. Playwrights write playscripts, and
actors, directors, and designers use them to stage the play.
PURPOSE OF A PLAYSCRIPT
Ensures that everyone involved in the production
knows the story and their roles
Helps actors convey a character's feelings through
expression
Helps audiences infer what characters are
thinking and feeling.
ELEMENTS OF A PLAYSCRIPT
