Learning About DramaLearning About Drama

What is Drama?What is Drama?

Types of DramaTypes of Drama

Elements of DramaElements of Drama

What is DRAMA?What is DRAMA?

Drama is a story told in Drama is a story told in dialoguedialogue by by performersperformers in front of an in front of an audienceaudience..

Drama is another word for a Drama is another word for a playplay..When you think of drama, you might When you think of drama, you might

think of stage plays performed in think of stage plays performed in theatres. However, drama is more theatres. However, drama is more than theatre.than theatre.

DRAMADRAMA

Drama includesDrama includes

STAGE PLAYS – drama written to be STAGE PLAYS – drama written to be performed on a stage for a live performed on a stage for a live audienceaudience

SCREENPLAYS – scripts written for films. SCREENPLAYS – scripts written for films. These will include camera angles and These will include camera angles and can allow for more scene changes can allow for more scene changes than a stage play.than a stage play.

DRAMA ContinuedDRAMA Continued

Drama also includesDrama also includes

TELEPLAYS – scripts written for TELEPLAYS – scripts written for television and often contain elements television and often contain elements similar to a screenplay.similar to a screenplay.

RADIO PLAYS – written to be RADIO PLAYS – written to be performed as radio broadcasts. They performed as radio broadcasts. They include sound effects and require no include sound effects and require no set, stage, or directions that explain set, stage, or directions that explain movement.movement.

Types of DramaTypes of Drama

There are 3 main types of drama.There are 3 main types of drama.

1)1) Comedy Comedy a)a) It is light and humorousIt is light and humorous

b)b) Has a happy endingHas a happy ending

c)c) Features normal characters in funny Features normal characters in funny situationssituations

d)d) Written to entertain, but may also Written to entertain, but may also point out the faults of societypoint out the faults of society

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=qdbufgPceCo

Types of Drama continuedTypes of Drama continued2) Tragedy – a contrast to comedy2) Tragedy – a contrast to comedy

a) the events of the drama lead to the a) the events of the drama lead to the downfall of the main character downfall of the main character b) character can be an average person, but is b) character can be an average person, but is often a person of great significance like a king often a person of great significance like a king or a heroic figureor a heroic figurec) has a tragic ending – ends in catastrophe for c) has a tragic ending – ends in catastrophe for the main characterthe main characterd) the cause of the tragedy can be a weakness d) the cause of the tragedy can be a weakness or flaw in the main character or an evil in or flaw in the main character or an evil in societysocietye) written to cause the audience to pity and e) written to cause the audience to pity and then to think about the weakness or flawthen to think about the weakness or flaw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqRccjKub2A&feature=player_detailpage

Types of Drama ContinuedTypes of Drama Continued

3) Drama – used to describe plays that 3) Drama – used to describe plays that address serious subjectsaddress serious subjects

* usually highly emotional* usually highly emotional

* written to excite emotion from the * written to excite emotion from the audienceaudience

*intended to portray life or character *intended to portray life or character or to or to tell a story usually involving tell a story usually involving conflicts conflicts and emotionsand emotions

Types of Drama conclusionTypes of Drama conclusion

There are many other types of drama that There are many other types of drama that fall under these 3 main types.fall under these 3 main types.

For example: melodrama, tragicomedy, For example: melodrama, tragicomedy, comedy of manners, social document, comedy of manners, social document, burlesque, pantomime, mime, opera, burlesque, pantomime, mime, opera, musical comedy, musical, mystery, murder musical comedy, musical, mystery, murder mystery, farce, problem drama, classical mystery, farce, problem drama, classical drama, historical drama, expressionism, drama, historical drama, expressionism, theater of the absurd, theater of cruelty, theater of the absurd, theater of cruelty, mixed media theater, epic, pageant, mixed media theater, epic, pageant, masque, miracle play, revival, serial, thriller masque, miracle play, revival, serial, thriller

ELEMENTS OF DRAMAELEMENTS OF DRAMA

The following elements make drama The following elements make drama come to life:come to life:

The PLAYWRIGHT is the author of a play.The PLAYWRIGHT is the author of a play.

The ACTORS are the people who The ACTORS are the people who perform the drama. The ACTORS take perform the drama. The ACTORS take the parts of the characters.the parts of the characters.

ELEMENTS OF DRAMAELEMENTS OF DRAMACHARACTER is a person or an animal that CHARACTER is a person or an animal that

takes part in the action of the drama.takes part in the action of the drama.The way a playwright develops a The way a playwright develops a

character is called CHARACTERIZATION.character is called CHARACTERIZATION.This is shown by This is shown by 1) what the character says and does, 1) what the character says and does, 2) what the character feels and thinks, 2) what the character feels and thinks, 3) what other characters say about a 3) what other characters say about a

character,character,4) and what the narrator tells the 4) and what the narrator tells the

audience directly.audience directly.

ELEMENTS OF DRAMAELEMENTS OF DRAMA

Dramatic Speech Dramatic Speech

advances the story’s actionsadvances the story’s actions

1)1) Dialogue – conversation between or Dialogue – conversation between or among charactersamong characters

2)2) Monologue – a long speech that is Monologue – a long speech that is spoken by a single character. Many spoken by a single character. Many times it reveals a character’s times it reveals a character’s private thoughts and feelings.private thoughts and feelings.

ELEMENTS OF DRAMAELEMENTS OF DRAMA

Stage Directions – [the sets of Stage Directions – [the sets of bracketed information] that describe bracketed information] that describe the scenery and how the characters the scenery and how the characters should move and speakshould move and speak

Theatre – a place where plays are Theatre – a place where plays are usually presentedusually presented

Set – the construction on the stage to Set – the construction on the stage to suggest time and placesuggest time and place

Scenery – another word for setScenery – another word for set

ELEMENTS OF DRAMAELEMENTS OF DRAMA

Props – small movable items that Props – small movable items that actors use to make their actions look actors use to make their actions look realistic.realistic.

• ACTS are the units of action in a ACTS are the units of action in a drama.drama.

•The ACTS are often divided into The ACTS are often divided into smaller parts called SCENES.smaller parts called SCENES.