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