Elements of Drama

 

What is drama?                        Drama (play) is a form of literature that is performed for an audience, either on stage or on a camera

 

What is a script?                       A script is a special form in which drama is written.

 

Parts of a script include             Cast of characters

                                                Dialogue

                                                Stage directions (props and scenery)

                                                Acts and scenes

 

What is cast of characters?       a list of characters sometimes along with a short description

 

What is dialogue?                     a conversation between characters

 

What are stage directions?        instructions for the directors, actors, stage crew, or anyone else involved in the drama

 

Stage directions include             props

                                                scenery

 

What are props?                       the objects the characters need during the play

 

What is scenery?                      the decorations that help create the setting

 

What are acts?                         Acts are the major divisions of the play

                                                For example, if a play was on someone’s life, the acts would be divided as follows:

                                                Act I birth until age 12

                                                Act II age 13 until age 18

                                                Act III college years

                                                Act IV adult life

 

What are scenes?                     Scenes are the division of acts. Every time the scenery changes in the act, the scene changes.

                                                For example, Act I Scene 1 may be in the hospital room

                                                                     Act I Scene 2 may be the first day of kindergarten

                                                                     Act I Scene 3 may be sometime during third grade

 

What is a teleplay?                    A teleplay is a script that is written to be performed for a television show.