Page 23 - Year 7 Knowledge Organiser

Drama: 1 of 3 Drama: 2 of 3

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d drama terminology I n s id e Ou t – A ut um n Still image
T heaT ric al Sk illS Slow motion
Physical skills Levels
Script Terminology Body language -also known as non-
verbal communication. Flashback
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Plot The main events of the play, and the order in which Posture -how you stand.
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they’re presented. Gestures -using your hands or arms to D Drama devices Marking the moment
communicate meaning.
Character The people in the play and who they are (age,
name, personality) Movement -how you move your body. Choral speech | movement
Context The 5 W’s: Who, What, Where, When, Why? The Facial Expression – using your face
situation. Context of a play can also refer to what was to communicate feelings and emotion. Soundscape
happening at the time the play was written (social, cultural, Different types of facial expressions
historical) Eye contact – looking at another
Themes The recurring ideas in the play. For example, character onstage to create meaning.
themes in Harry Potter would include: witchcraft/wizardry, Focus -staying in role during a performance.
magic, friendships spatial awareness -using the stage area.
Genre The type of drama: comedy, tragedy, political, levels -Using different heights or levels
romance onstage to create interest and meaning.
Style The way it is presented: naturalistic, non-naturalistic,
physical theatre, surrealism Proxemics -using space to show the relationship Different types of bodylanguage
Stage Directions Usually written in italics or inside between characters.
brackets, this information tells the actor where to go or what V o cal skills
to do. Pitch -how high or low the voiceis.
Structure The way the play is set out: Chronological, Pace -the speed at which youspeak. Did you know that we can convey
STYLES OF PERFORMANCE: Naturalism v Non-Naturalism cyclical, episodic Tone -suggests your mood and your countless emotions without even saying
Playwright The person who has written the play.
Naturalism = A style of drama that aims to create the illusion of real life. It Roles in the Theatre intention towards the listener, e.g. happy, sad, a word? We do this through our facial
should come across as completely believable to the audience. angry. expressions.
Set Designer: A set designer is in charge of designing and creating the sets that appear in films, on Volume – how loud or quietly youspeak.
television programmes as well as in the theatre.
Non-Naturalism = A style of performance that uses a range of dramatic accent – the voice you use for a character Facial expressions are used to convey
conventions, such as still images or monologue. In real life, these conventions Costume Designer: The costume designer is in charge of designing and selecting the costumes the based up on social class & the region they live.
don’t happen, which is why they make the drama ‘non-naturalistic’. actors will wear, in order to reflect who the characters are. Projection – speaking loudly & clearly. additional meanings in various
You can also use a mixture of both styles! You could create a piece of drama Lighting Designer: Designs the lighting in order to create atmosphere, and reflect the time of day for intonation -how the voice changes in conversations.
where some scenes are naturalistic, and others make use of drama conventions. the production in response to the text, while keeping in mind issues of visibility, safety, and cost. pitch. Pause – to stop speaking for a short
time.