Drama Techniques

MONOLOGUE

One actor speaks on their own, either directly to an audience or to themselves

 

 

 

 

TABLEAU

The creation of a still image. The action is frozen like a photograph

 

 

MIME

A storyline is acted out through movement & gesture, without the character speaking

 

 

 

CONSCIENCE ALLEY

A character from the drama walks between 2 rows of students who are speaking opinions

DRAMATIC PAUSE

During the dialogue a short silence can build tension for a dramatic effect

 

 

IN THE ROUND

A type of staging – the drama is performed with the audience sitting in a circle around the edge of the acting area

 

PROSCENIUM ARCH

A type of staging – stage is at one end with audience facing

 

 

 

THRUST STAGE

A type of staging – The audience sit around three sides of the acting area

 

 

SOUNDSCAPE

Different sounds are made through voice to create a dramatic effect

 

 

 

 

FORUM THEATRE

The audience watching the drama can stop the scene & offer advice to the actors & suggest ways of changing the scene.

THOUGHT TRACKING

When the action is frozen & a character speaks a thought out loud

 

 

HOTSEATING

In role, answering questions about yourself or a situation spontaneously

 

 

TEACHER IN ROLE

When your teacher acts as a character in a role play

 

 

MANTLE OF THE EXPERT

When you are given a problem to solve or asked to offer advice whilst in character as experts of some kind.

ROLE ON THE WALL

When you draw a large picture of your character & write details about your character on / around it.

 

 

CLIMAX

ANTI CLIMAX

Building & /or releasing tension in the drama

NARRATION

A spoken commentary on the action of the scene told by a character

 

 

 

CROSS CUTTING

Re-sequencing the action cutting forwards & backwards to different moments.

 

FLASHBACK

When you start the drama in the present time & show scenes which happened before that.

 

 

 

STAYING IN ROLE

Not coming out of character for anything!! Eg. No laughing, pointing out that something went wrong.