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Drama as Performance; Drama as Literature.
Drama as Literature:
Drama is considered literature when it refers to the written text of a play that can be read and analyzed as a literary work. It focuses on:
- Textual elements such as scenes, acts, and sets.
- Language, including dialogue and stage directions.
- Reader interpretation of the text, independent of performance.
Drama as Performance:
Drama is considered a performance when it involves the live presentation of a play. This includes:
- Actors, directors, and other theatre professionals.
- Interaction between performers and the audience in a physical space.
- Live experience, where the audience connects emotionally with the actors.
- Each performance is unique and cannot be duplicated exactly.
Difference Between Drama and Theatre
Relationship Between Drama and Theatre
- Drama is the bedrock of theatre—it provides the script and structure for performance.
- Theatre brings drama to life by interpreting the playwright's vision on stage.
- They are interdependent:
- Drama relies on theatre for performance.
- Theatre relies on drama as its foundational material.
Editors choice: key terms in drama and theatre.
General Terms
- Drama – A written play meant to be performed.
- Theatre – The live performance of a drama.
- Playwright – The writer of a play.
- Script – The written text of a play.
- Act – A major division in a play.
- Scene – A smaller division within an act.
- Dialogue – The spoken words between characters.
- Monologue – A long speech by one character.
- Soliloquy – A speech where a character talks to themselves, revealing thoughts.
- Aside – A comment made by a character directly to the audience.
Performance Terms
- Actor/Actress – A person who performs in a play.
- Director – The person who manages the performance.
- Audience – People watching the performance.
- Stage – The area where the performance takes place.
- Costume – Clothes worn by actors to represent characters.
- Props – Objects used on stage by actors.
- Lighting – Use of light to create mood or time in a play.
- Sound Effects – Noises used to support the performance.
- Blocking – The planned movement of actors on stage.
Dramatic Types and Elements
- Tragedy – A serious drama that often ends in death or failure.
- Comedy – A humorous play that ends happily.
- Melodrama – A drama with exaggerated emotions and characters.
- Farce – A comedy with silly, exaggerated situations.
- Satire – A play that mocks or criticizes society or people.
- Theme – The main idea or message of a play.
- Plot – The sequence of events in a play.
- Characterization – How a character is developed and portrayed.
- Conflict – The struggle between characters or forces.
- Climax – The most intense point in the play.
Other Key Concepts
- Chorus – A group that comments on the action in Greek drama.
- Prologue – An introduction to the play.
- Epilogue – A conclusion or closing speech.
- Improvisation – Acting without a script.
- Mime – Acting without words, using only body movement.
- Ritual Drama – Drama that originates from religious or traditional practices.
- Theatron = audience seating area in Greek theatre.
Recap Definition of Drama and Theatre
Dramatic Literature
- Drama is a genre of literature.
- It is a style of writing; the printed play is called a text or playtext (also known as dramatic text).
- Drama is a written script meant to be read and ultimately performed on stage.
- The playtext is used to script the theatrical performance.
In summary:
Drama is a written work of art that tells a story through action and speech, meant to be acted on stage.
Theatre
- Theatre is the physical location where the playtext is performed.
- It involves performances by actors and actresses in front of an audience.
- The audience watches the performance just as a reader reads a script.
- The word "Theatre" comes from the Greek word "Theatron", which means "a place for showing or performing".
Definitions of Drama
- Drama is a type of literature written to be performed in front of an audience.
- It portrays fictional or non-fictional events through dialogue (either prose or poetry).
- It is a composition in verse or prose that tells a story involving conflicts and emotions, usually designed for theatrical performance. (William Shakespeare)
- A written work that tells a story through actions and speech, meant to be acted on stage.
- Aristotle described drama as an imitation of life, representing human action and emotion through dialogue and spectacle.
- Drama can also be seen as a manifestation of play instinct, like children playing roles (e.g., mother and father).
Definitions of Theatre
- A building or area for dramatic performances.
- A venue for showing motion pictures.
- An outdoor structure for performances in ancient Greece and Rome.
- Theatre is performance—it is the implementation and manifestation of the dramatic text.
- The stage brings the content (drama) to life through live performance. (Olga Gilyazova)
- Theatre is often referred to as "the lively art" because it is performed live in front of an audience.