dramatic features of a play

Dramatic Features and More…by S.L.Lewington

Drama is a genre that is deliberately written for performance. The audience’s understanding of the characters and plot depends on the skill

of the writer, the actors and director whose task it is, to bring those words on the page, to

life.

You are encouraged to interpret a script with imagination and confidence. It is important to be

aware of intonation and the intention of the character when speaking.

There is enormous difference between reading a script and reading a novel.

Reading is usually a private activity but a play is written to be performed.

A novel will typically include plenty of descriptions to stir the readers’ imagination, enabling them to ‘see’

the events.

A play contains mainly dialogue and very little description. It is opposite to a novel, the audience can see what is happening but the reader cannot.

Dramatic techniques are used by the playwright to enhance meaning and

understanding amongst the audience.

Dramatic techniques include:

Stage Directions

Asides

Entrances and Exits

Scenes and Acts

Symbolism

Speech Directions

Language

Dialogue

Verse/Rhyme

Conflict

Accents

Characterisation

Intertextuality

Monologues

Repetition

Intonations

Rhythm

Body Language

Subtext

Intonation/Inflection

Stage Directions1. Text apart from dialogue

usually written in italics.

2. Includes directions about

movement on stage and

details about the actor’s

physical actions and

psychological intentions.

3. May refer to lighting, musical

or technical changes too.

Scenes and Acts

These have dramatic significance as they signal the beginning or ending of a situation or climax of some kind.

They may also indicate a change of physical setting e.g. Inside a room changes into an outdoor scene.

The playwright

must rely upon

the dialogue and

interaction of the

characters to

explain the plot.

The director

decides how it

should be

interpreted. The

actor will try

different ways.

Dialogue

The spectacle a play presents in performance, including the position of actors on stage, the scenic background, the props and costumes,

and the lighting and sound effects. 

Staging

The way an author chooses words, arranges them in sentences or in lines of dialogue or verse, and develops ideas and actions with

description, imagery, and other literary techniques.

Style

Much about the plot can be derived from the language of the

characters. The language used may

represent social status, nationality, education, emotional state and

the ‘intentions’ of the characters.

Language

AsidesDuring as aside, the actor jumps out of

character for a moment and speaks

directly to the audience or camera, and then reverts to

being their character again.

Just as in normal conversation, the spoken words of the play are only a small aspect of what the audience ‘reads’ from the performance.

In normal conversation, we derive only

7% of the meaning of the words

spoken, 38% from the way the words

are said, and 55% from body language.

Interpretation

Facial expressions, gestures, stamping a foot or shaking a fist, can communicate emotions and thoughts in the same way as an adjective does in a narrative.

B0dy Language

Subtext or undertone is content of a book, play, musical work, film, video game, or television series which is not announced

explicitly by the characters (or author) but is implicit or becomes something understood by

the observer of the work as the production unfolds. Subtext can also refer to the thoughts and motives of the characters which are only

covered in an aside.

Subtext

Entrances and Exits Important to notice these

as they introduce the arrival or departure of the characters onstage.

Actors are encouraged to make colourful exits and entrances on stage rather than wandering on and off.

Interesting entrances and exits become a sign of good direction.

1. Objects may be used as devices to represent various elements e.g. A moon, a knife, a broken glass.

2. They are always included deliberately and never randomly included as part of the set.

3. Props are meaningful and symbolism may also be a part of the script.

Symbolism

Speech Directions

These are sometimes but not always included by the

playwright. They may suggest ways for the actor to speak a line

e.g. (whispers) or (shouts)

A state of disharmony between incompatible persons, ideas or interests.

Conflict

Repetition.Used within the dialogue – repeated

words, phrases and images. Used for emphasis or to create a mood.

Also used to add to the characterisation.

In some of Shakespeare’s plays, it is possible to tell the status of a character or the mood of the

scene by whether it is written as poetry or in everyday speech, e.g. characters of low status

do not speak in verse and comic scenes are often written in prose.

Prose or Verse

The Manuscript

Accents are an obvious indication of the character’s background and nationality e.g. Provincial English, European, American etc.

Accents

The change in tone and dialogue, indicating different emotions or sarcasm.

Intonation

A sudden change in pitch or tone

Inflection

The creation of a character is a combined product of the creativity of the playwright, the director and the actor. The latter two arrive at a decision at the beginning of rehearsals about the way they want to present the character. They try to stay true to the intention of the playwright.

Characterisation

Plays within plays and references to other works often included in a script.

Intertextuality

Technical Features of DramaSound Effects – SFXMusicIT Technology

Lighting Effects - LFX

CostumesMake-Up

MusicA very important

feature used to lead the audience into a mood or situation. Highly effective.

Visual signs that contribute to the overall effect

of the story that is being told or presented.

May be simple or complicated.

Costumes/Set

Make-Up

Technology

Today we have many

technological effects

that may be utilised

within a production

e.g. projections,

electronic devices,

special effects.

Sound Effects - SFXImportant

component of every production e.g. bells, voices, barking, footsteps

etc.

Lighting Effects - LFXLighting is so important it is often considered to be another actor.

It is an integral part of every theatrical production.

It sets the mood.

The End