Page 13 - Year 8

Computer Science: 1 of 1 Drama: 1 of 1

‘Great theatre is about challenging howwethink and encouraging us to fantasize about a world weaspire to’ – Williem Dafoe
Terminology and Techniques Physical Skills Vocal Skills

Numerical The number of dancers on stage and the Facial Using the face to express that characters Dialogue The spoken script on stage.
variations and positioning that is transition from one to the Expressions feelings and emotions. Direct Address When an actor speaks directly to the audience, e.g. in
formation next Gesture An expressive movement of the body, or pantomime.
Accumulation Gradually more dancers join in the sequence something that is said or done to show a CommunalVoice A variation on chorus work where a group of performers
feeling, i.e. a wave. speaks with ‘one voice’.
Contrast Body Posture The position of the body to communicate a Intonation Variation of spoken pitch that is not used to distinguish
character, i.e. standing with a straight back, to words, but the attitudes and emotions of the speaker. For
Unison The dancers perform the same movements at show you have higher status than another example questions, feelings, statements.
the same time character.
Canon The movements are performed successively Body Language The way in which our bodies communicate our Language Register The level of formality with which you speak. Different
(one after the other) character’s attitudes. Using your body to show people and situations call for different registers. For
Re-order To change the order emotions or hidden feelings. example talking to a teacher and your friends.
Movement The process of moving the body on stage to Monologue One person speaking, either delivering a speech or
Retrograde To do the sequence in reverse order thoughts and feelings to the audience.
express feelings, or emotions. Vocal Pace The speed in which an actor delivers their lines.
Repetition To repeat moves Audience The spectators who watch the performance. Vocal Pause Pausing lines to create dramatic effect such as tension.
Off-Stage The area ‘back stage’ where the audience can’t
Instrumentation To use a different body part than the one set Vocal Tone The way that you speak, using ‘intonation’ to add feelings,
see the actors
Fragmentation To break up the sequence into sections Character The person/persona an actor wishes to convey. emotions or sub-text.
Status The level of society a character is in. Vocal Projection Using the voice so that all the audience can hear.
Motif This is repeated use of a movement pattern Improvisation To perform quickly in response to something, Sound Any music, sound effects or other sound used on stage
which has meaning and reminds us of the created by electronics, actor’s bodies or instruments.
central theme of the work. without previous planning. Sound is used to create atmosphere, or mood.
Pitch The ‘highness’ or ‘lowness’ in the tone of the voice.
Mime This usually means stylised movement but
can be comparatively realistic.
Gesture A gesture may be something small but can Practitioners and Companies
have emotional impact or it can be a
particular movement that defines a Stanislavski Naturalism, emotion memory, magic ‘if’, super
character. objective, subtext, through line, given circumstance
Status This may be executed by use of levels or by BertoltBrecht Epic theatre, verfremdungseffekt, emotional investment
distance or strength of contact, or a
combination of all of these with voice work. Frantic Assembly Theatre company – physical theatre, story telling with
movement