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Theatre Studies: Theatrical Elements & Techniques

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Theatrical Elements

action: the movement or development of the plot or story in a play; the sense of forward movement created by the sense of time and/or the physical and psychological motivations of characters.

focus: in lighting, the adjustment of the size and shape of a stage light and/or the direction in which it is aimed; in acting, the act of concentrating or staying in character.

mood: the tone or feeling of the play, often engendered by the music, setting, or lighting.

role: the character portrayed by an actor in a drama.

situation: a combination of circumstances at a given moment

symbol: an object or event used in literature to represent something else; often this representation alludes to a deeper meaning. Symbolism is the use of symbolic language, imagery, or color to evoke emotions or ideas.

tension: the atmosphere created by unresolved, disquieting, or inharmonious situations that human beings feel compelled to address; the state of anxiety the audience feels because of a threat to a character in a play.

timing: includes setting cues for effects and lighting, synchronizing two or more things that must happen simultaneously, and establishing the pace at which lines will be delivered or the play performed.

Theatrical Techniques

acting: use of face, body, and voice to portray character.

characterization: how an actor uses body, voice, and thought to develop and portray a character.

expression: physical and vocal aspects used by an actor to convey mood, feeling, or personality

gesture: any movement of the actor’s head, shoulder, arm, hand, leg, or foot to convey meaning.

movement: stage blocking or the movements of the actors onstage during performance; also refers to the action of the play as it moves from event to event.

vocal expression: how an actor uses his or her voice to convey character.

vocal projection: directing the voice out of the body to be heard clearly at a distance.

voice: the combination of vocal qualities an actor uses such as articulation, phrasing, and pronunciation.

Script Writing