This powerpoint presentation describes the Dramatic Features of a Play and can be used to assist the individual's creative process or simply become integrated into a lesson about theatre.

1. 

2. 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.

3. 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.

5. 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

6. 1. 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.

7.  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.

8. 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

9. 
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.

10. 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.

11. 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 ‘ ’ of the
characters.

12. During 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.

13. 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

14. 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.

15. 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.

16.  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.

17. 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.

18. 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)

19. A state of disharmony between incompatible persons,
ideas or interests.

20. Used within the dialogue – repeated words, phrases and images.
Used for emphasis or to create a mood.
Also used to add to the characterisation.

21. 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.

23. Accents are an obvious indication of the character’s
background and nationality e.g. Provincial English,
European, American etc.

24. The change in tone and dialogue, indicating different
emotions or sarcasm.

25. A sudden change in pitch or tone

26. 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.

28. Plays within plays and references to other works
often included in a script.

29.  Sound Effects – SFX
 Music
 IT Technology
 Lighting Effects - LFX
 Costumes
 Make-Up

30. A very important feature
used to lead the audience
into a mood or situation.
Highly effective.

31. Visual signs that contribute to the overall effect of the
story that is being told or presented. May be simple or
complicated.

33. Today we have many
technological effects that
may be utilised within a
production e.g.
projections, electronic
devices, special effects.

34. Important component
of every production
e.g. bells, voices,
barking, footsteps
etc.

35. Lighting is so important it is often considered to be another actor.
It is an integral part of every theatrical production.
It sets the mood.