drama conventions

Conventions of a Drama Script

By Satyabrata Rana

ELEMENTS OF A DRAMA SCRIPT:

Name of the Play:Hamlet

The Post OfficeMacbethTempest

Character Profile:MADHAVAMAL, his adopted childSUDHA, a little flower girlTHE DOCTORDAIRYMANWATCHMANGAFFERVILLAGE HEADMAN, a bullyKING'S HERALDROYAL PHYSICIAN

The Post Office

Setting: Used by Directors to set the scene in the mind of the audience.QUESTIONS TO ANSWER:• WHERE DOES THE PLAY TAKE PLACE ?• WHAT IS HAPPENING ?• WHAT TIME IS IT ?• WHAT SEASON ?

Set in 1950’s style diner, “McDenny’s”, in the present day England. BERYL is sitting at the back of a “u” shaped booth. She is tucking into a large burger and reading a gas bill

Stage Directions: Instructions for an actor which are not spoken. It indicates how an actor should deliver his lines and what they should be doing.ENTER LYNDA, SUSAN AND RODERICK LYNDA: (SPEAKING TO SUSAN AND ROD AS THEY MAKE THEIR WAY OVER TO BERYL) ...PUT YOUR BACK INTO IT MAN, I SAID, USE SOME ELBOW GREASE, DON’T JUST TICKLE IT, I WANT TO SEE MY FACE IN IT... HI BERYL... BERYL HIDES THE BURGER UNDER THE TABLEBERYL: OH HI SUSAN: (SITS AT THE TABLE AT THE LEFT SIDE OF BERYL) HE WAS DOING HIS BEST.

Narrative Structure

BeginningSets up:• Situation• Roles• Relationships• Place

ComplicationsStarts building the CLIMAX

The problems each character faces or the protagonist faces as the story goes on.

ClimaxThe BIG Event of the script.

What Happens next ?Who is the villain ?How can they meet again ?How did this happen ?How can it be resolved ?

Resolution