Drama glossary 1

Front

Backstory

Back

A story of a character’s past, which contains important information about the way they behave in the play. It can be imagined or built from information included by the playwright.

Front

Body language

Back

The way in which someone uses their body to communicate emotion, attitude, and status, including posture, sitting, eye contact, and physical contact.

Front

Dialogue

Back

a conversation between two or more people as a feature of a book, play, or film.

Front

Dialogue

Back

An exchange of words between two or more characters in a play.

Front

Stage directions

Back

1. instructions in a play script that tell actors what to do and how to do it, rather than what they say, including movements, actions, and even descriptions of the setting or characters

Front

Ensemble

Back

A group of performers, also used when the work of a whole group in a scene involving physicality and movement is important.

Front

External

Back

Outside.

Front

Facial expression

Back

The way in which an actor uses their face to communicate emotion and attitude.

Front

Flashback

Back

A scene showing an event from the past to help explain something happening in the main story.

Front

Gesture

Back

A generally understood physical way of communicating a message, like shaking hands to mean ‘hello’ or ‘goodbye.’