Way of speaking used in a local area or country

Accent

Type of clay used for altering the shape of the nose or chin and/or

making warts and wounds

• NOSE PUTTY

Used to attach a lantern to the lighting bar for safety

• SAFETY CHAIN

Control board for lighting

• LIGHTING DESK

add soft furnishings such as table cloth, cushions, pictures

and pre-set props

• Dress the set/set dressing

Liquid rubber which can be used to make skull cap moulds and

false noses

• LATEX

Lightweight frames and boards for creating levels

• Portable staging

A loud whisper intended to be heard by the audience

• STAGE WHISPER

Clear pronunciation of words

articulation

Outline of the plot of a drama including changes in time and

place

• SCENARIO

Beam of light created by a lantern for a person or place on

the acting area

SPOTLIGHT

Downstage Centre

Plastic head-shaped covering to give appearance of baldness

• SKULL CAP

A drama presented through dance moves

• Dance Drama

The process of fully developing a character

• Characterisation

Focussing

• Positioning the lanterns to get the desired lighting

Explanation of symbols on a ground plan

• KEY

Clearness of the Voice

• Clarity

Worn by actors for their character

• MAKE UP

Glue used to attach hair to the face

• SPIRIT GUM

A form of drama in which a fairy tale is told. Usually performed at

Christmas time

• PANTOMIME

The collective name for lighting, sound, costume, props, makeup

and set

• THEATRE ARTS

• UP STAGE LEFT

The position of the acting area relative to the audience

• STAGING

A drama about unhappy events and with a sad ending

• TRAGEDY

Section of a drama set in one place at one time.

• Scene

• UP STAGE RIGHT

The whole acting area is evenly lit

• WASH (general wash)

Place where a drama is presented

• VENUE

Enter

• To come on stage

Fresnel Spot

• Lantern giving a soft edged beam of light

Flash Forward

• (convention) acting out of a future or imagined event

a conversation between two or more characters

• Dialogue

• Downstage Left (DSL)

Master copy of the script with all moves and technical effects

included

• PROMPT COPY

Stage curtains

• TABS

Blocks or platforms used to create levels

• ROSTRA

A signal for an actor to do or say something, or for a lighting or sound effect to begin or end

• cue

Recorded speech played during a drama

• VOICE OVER

Build up of tension or excitement

• TENSION

Evaluate

• To judge the strengths and weaknesses of a drama

Change of voice to express emotion

• TONE

Written or spoken advice on how to act in a drama

• STAGE DIRECTIONS

• UP STAGE CENTRE

A specific group of people at whom a a drama is aimed

• TARGET AUDIENCE

Film placed in front of a lantern to change the colour of the beam.

• Gel

A character speaks their thoughts aloud (with another

person on stage)

• MONOLOUGE

Sticks of make-up in different colours used to create lines,

bruises, shading, highlighting

• LINERS

Using light colours to make face areas stand out

• SHADING

a break in speech, or a period of silence

• PAUSE

Flats

• Wooden frames, joined together and covered with canvas which can be painted

Soft pencils in different colours which are easily smudged and

blended

• PENCILS

Movement performed at a slowed down speed

• SLOW MOTION

A list of costumes for each character in a drama

• Costume list

Follow Spot

• Powerful profile used to follow actors around the acting area

Dramatic Irony

• Actions or remarks whose significance is not realised by all the characters. (you know something the characters don’t)

Left hand side of the stage where prompter and stage manager sit

during performance

• PROMPT SIDE

A documentary style drama, including reconstruction of events

• Docu-drama

Powder, liquid or capsules which create the effect of bleeding

• FAKE BLOOD

The way to write down lighting effects

• LFX

Table in the wings on which all props are placed for actors to

collect as they enter and replace as they exit

• Props table

Costume which reflects clothing from a time in history

• PERIOD COSTUME

Canvas cloth which covers the back of the stage & can be painted

Back cloth

O----------O

Scene by scene breakdown which sequences time, place and

action.

• STUCTURE

Audience seated all around the acting area

THEATRE IN THE ROUND

Fluency

• Natural flowing speech

Rising and falling of voice

• INTONATION

Non acting area behind the stage

• Backstage

Window Flat

• Frames into which a window is built

Part of the stage in front of the curtain

• APRON

Dress Rehearsal

• Final rehearsal of a drama with all the theatre arts added

A means of exploring attitudes and beliefs

• ROLE PLAY

Stage within an enclosing arch

• PROSCENIUM ARCH STAGE

A drama which is funny/comical

• comedy

To remove all the set from the acting area

• STRIKE

Form

• The overall Style of a drama

Use of the body as a means of communication

• MOVEMENT

Recall of words said by others about a character or situation

• VOICES IN THE HEAD

Exit

• To leave the acting area

Natural, flowing speech

• FLUENCY

Presentation of a drama to an audience

• PERFORMANCE

Speed of movement or speech

• PACE

Basic skin colour

• FOUNDATION

An item carried or worn by a character e.g. glasses/handbag

• PERSONAL PROP

Alternative ways of presenting a drama

• Conventions

Anything which suggests ideas which can be developed into a

drama

• STIMULUS

The acting area is not lit

• Blackout

Sides of a theatre stage

• WINGS

A stage picture held without movement

• TABLEAU

Front of House

• Any job in the theatre that involves the audience (box office, bar, ushers etc)

Scars created with make-up , putty or scarring material

• SCARRING

To supply forgotten lines to an actor

• PROMPT

What the audience sees of the stage from where they are sitting

• SIGHT LINES

The lighting/sound is faded out slowly

• Slow fade to

A drama created on the spot without a script or a plan

• SPONTANEOUS IMPROVISATION

Used to create an unshaven look or the appearance of cracked

veins

STIPPLE SPONGE

one actor unintentionally preventing another from being

seen by the audience

• Masking

Forum Theatre

• The audience suggest changes to a drama in order to affect the outcomes

Movement of the hand or arm which communicates a meaning

or emotion

• gesture

Clothes worn by actors for their characters

• Costume

Key moment, scene, character, relationship or event in a drama

• FOCUS

Short for properties- objects used by an actor

• PROPS

Scenery used to show where and when a drama takes place

• SET

A single lengthy speech, made when no other characters are on

stage

• SOLILOQUY

Facial expression

• Look on the face which shows emotion

How high or low the voice is

• PITCH

The back wall of the stage which can be painted or lit

• cyclorama

The lighting/sound is faded out quickly

• Fast fade to

the written words of a drama

• SCRIPT

Door in the floor through which actors can ascend or descend

• TRAP DOOR

Stylised form of movement creating the illusion of reality

• MIME

Focus

• Key moment, scene, character, relationship or event in a drama

Loudness or quietness of the voice

• VOLUME

A form of drama which includes songs and/or music

• MUSICAL

Area above the stage from where scenery/actors are

flown in on pulleys

• flies

Used to create the look of a missing tooth by blacking out an

existing one

• TOOTH VARNISH

Resources used to create the setting where a drama takes

place,

• SCENERY

Piece of scenery on wheels for ease of movement

• TRUCK

Position of the body –how it is held

• POSTURE

See through material which cannot be seen through when lit from the front, but can be seen through when lit from behind

• GAUZE

Stage Fireworks

• PYROTECHNICS

Parts of the drama are told as a story

• NARRATOR/NARRATION

Lantern giving a wide spread of light

• FLOOD

Plaits of artificial hair which can be cut and trimmed to form eyebrows, moustaches and

beards

• CREPE HAIR

Freeze Frame

• (convention) the action is frozen in time

Clamp used to secure lantern to lighting bar or stand

• G- clamp

Emphasis

• Stressing a word or a phrase

• Centre Stage Right (CSR)

Master copy of the script with all moves and technical effects

included

• PROMPT COPY

Adjustable metal flaps attached to the front of a fresnel spotlight for

shaping the beam of light

• Barndoors

Person who has written the play

• PLAY WRIGHT

Door flat

• Frames into which a door is built

The process of developing a drama’s content and roles through

practical exploration, experimentation and problem

solving. (in the drama process)

• Creating

Frozen Picture

• A tableau but the foundation word

Flood

• Lantern giving a wide spread of light

Appropriate speech for the person being spoken to, or for

the situation

• REGISTER

Any job in the theatre which involves dealing with the

audience (e.g. the box office, bar, usher)

• FRONT OF HOUSE

An aid to characterisation where the character speaks their

thoughts out loud

• THOUGHT TRACKING

Movements which follow a pattern or a beat

• RHYTHM

Flies

• Area above the stage from where scenery/actors are flown in on pulleys

Part played by an actor/ attitude adopted

• ROLE

An item placed on the set, usually part of it e.g. a lamp,

clock, picture

SET PROP

• Centre Stage (CS)

The result of creating process, including performance and

evaluation

• PRESENTING

Drama devised/ created without a script which is rehearsed

before presentation

• REHEARSED IMPROVISATION

A loud whisper intended to be heard by the audience

• STAGE WHISPER

An exaggerated portrayal of a type of person

• STEREOTYPE

End on Stage

• Audience seated at one end-acting area at the other

Thin metal plate cut out in a pattern and placed in a lantern to project pattern or shape into the

acting area

• gobo

Deciding where and when actors will move on stage

• Blocking

Used to create a mood or atmosphere on stage using specific devices. E.g. strobe

light, mirror ball, smoke machine

• SPECIAL EFFECTS

Covering for all, or part, of the face

• MASK

Audience follows the action on foot moving from one location to

another

• PROMENADE

Blackout is achieved instantly

• Snap to

Specific person in a drama

• Character

Questioning a character in the role

• HOT SEATING

Lantern giving a hard edged beam of light

• PROFILE SPOT

Control desk for sound effect being used in a drama

• MIXING DESK

Stage which turns in a circle

• Revolving stage

Attitude or position of the body

• STANCE

Area of the seating above the stalls and below the balcony

• DRESS CIRCLE

Speaking or moving at exactly the right time

• TIMING

• Centre Stage Left (CSL)

Stairs

• TREADS

character (s) walk past other characters who comment on the

situation

• THOUGHT TUNNEL

Keeping and even distribution of weight

• Balance

Practise or preparation of a drama

• REHEARSAL

Messages given by the position or movement of the body

• Body Language

Areas of seating above the stage

• BALCONY

Area in which actors wait when not on stage during a

performance

• GREEN ROOM

Slope of stage (to allow actors to be seen)

• RAKE

Bird’s eye view of the set showing what is on the set,

entrances/exits and the position of the audience

• GROUND PLAN

Story line of a drama

• PLOT

To change from one lighting cue to another with no blackout in

between or to change from one sound cue to another with no

silence in between

• Crossfade

Flashback

• (convention) Acting out of an event in the past

Audience seated on three sides of the acting area

• Thrust staging

The position of the acting area relative to the audience

• STAGING

Importance relative to others

• STATUS

A remark to the audience only

aside

People watching the Drama

audience

Drapes which curtain off the sides, or back of the stage

• BLACKS

Lowest area of seating, not above stage height

• STALLS

The area for the audience, generally filled with seats

Auditorium