Drama and Elements of Drama
Drama is written to be performed by actors and watched by an audience. In drama, there are 3
major elements which are literary, technical, and performance elements.
1) Literary elements
Plot- The basic storyline of the play.
Theme- Theme is
the main idea or lesson to be learned from the play.
Character- The people portrayed by the actors in
the play.
Dialogue- This
refers to the words written by the playwright and spoken by the characters in
the play.
Music – Music is
often featured in the drama,
Spectacle - This refers
to the visual elements of a play: sets, costumes, special effects, etc. The spectacle is everything that the audience sees as they watch the play.
2) Technical elements
Scenery (set) - The artificial equipment, such as
curtains, flats, backdrops, or platforms, used in a dramatic production to communicate environment.
Costumes- Clothing
and accessories are worn by actors to portray the character.
Properties- Properties are any article, except
costume or scenery, used as part of a dramatic production; any moveable object
that appears on stage during a performance,
Lights- Light
elements mean that every placement, intensity, and color of lights have to be
set as needed to help communicate environment, mood, or feeling
.
Sound- The
effects and audience hear during the performance to communicate character,
context, or environment.
Makeup- Makeup
includes costumes, wigs, and body paint used to transform an actor into a
character.
3) Performance elements
Acting- The use
of face, body, and voice to portray the character
Character
Motivation- The
reason for a character’s behavior; an inducement for further action for a
character in the drama.
Character Analysis- In responding to dramatic art, the
process of examining how the elements of drama –literary, technical, and
performance –are used.
Empathy- The
capacity to relate to the feelings of another
Elements of drama in the modern theatre
Plot- The basic storyline of the play
Theme- Theme is
the main idea or lesson to be learned from the play.
Characters- People portrayed by the actors in the
play.
Dialogue- The word written by playwright and
spoken by characters in the play.
Convention - These are
the techniques and methods used by the playwright and director to create the
desired stylistic effect.
Genre - Genre
refers to the type of play. Some examples of different genres include comedy,
tragedy, mystery and historical play.
Audience - This is the group of people who
watch the play.
Benefits of using drama in classrooms
Ø
Concentration
Ø
Organization skill
Ø Enhance Physical expression
Ø
Voice and speech
Ø
Imagination
Ø
Social and emotional awareness
Ø
Critical thinking
