Basic Theatre Terminology

Beginning Drama

Stage Fright

• A nervous feeling felt by someone who is going to appear in front of an audience

Drama

A piece of writing that tells a story and is performed

on stage

EnergyThe fuel that drives acting, enlivens performances, creates empathy, and

makes forceful characters

Focus

• The direction of an actor’s intention, action, emotion, or line delivery to a specific target

ActionThat which happens on stage to hold the audience’s attention

Open OutAn actor positions

their body and feet to open out their body to

face the audience

Cross

• To move from one position to another on stage

Convention

Special or traditional ways of doing things.

Theatre Convention – The fourth wall

Blocking - The precise movement and positioning of actors on the stage

Constructive Criticism

The process of offering valid and well-reasoned opinions about the work of

others, usually involving both positive and negative comments, in a friendly manner, rather than an oppositional

one. The purpose of which is to help, not harm the performer.