The Basic Elements of Theatre

The Basic Elements of Theatre
Script/Text, Scenario, Plan:

This is the starting point of the theatrical performance. The element most often considered as the domain
of the playwright in theatre. The playwright’s script is the text by which theatre is created. It can be
simplistic, as in the 16th century, with the scenarios used by the acting troupes of the Commedia dell’ arte,
or it can be elaborate, such as the works of William Shakespeare. The script, scenario, or plan is what the
director uses as a blue print to build a production from.
The Process:
This is the coordination of the creative efforts usually headed up in theatre by the director. It is the pure
process by which the playwright’s work is brought to realization by the director, actors, designers,
technicians, dancers, musicians, and any other collaborators that come together on the script, scenario, or
plan. This is the works in progress stage.
The Product:
This is the end result of the process of work involved. The final product that results from all of the labors
coming together to complete the finished work of script, scenario, and plan, in union with all of the
collaborators in the process to create the final product. This is what the audience will witness as they sit in
the theatre and view the work.
The Audience:
Theatre requires an audience. For all of the arts public is essential. The physical presence of an audience
can change a performance, inspire actors, and create expectations. Theatre is a living breathing art form.
The presence of live actors on the stage in front of live audiences sets it apart from modern day films and
television.
Let us now look to the person who is responsible for the starting point of the theatrical event. The initial
creator of the script, scenario, or plan, as outlined above. This person is the playwright. A playwright works
in that branch of literature dealing with the writing and producing of plays for the theatre. The literary
composition that is written specifically for the stage in play format by the playwright.
The Playwright
How plays are written at any given time depends on many factors: the intended audience and purpose; the
playwright’s current views about the human condition, and how the playwright perceives the truth around
him. A playwright must understand and know the established artistic and theatrical conventions of the
theatre. A playwright must appreciate the working procedures, materials, and technical aspects of a
production. Because the script is the starting point of the theatrical production, the process through which
it comes into being is of primary importance. There are many ways to write a play. Sometimes a playwright
starts with an idea. Another playwright may begin with a single character in mind. Some playwrights base
their work on spectacle. Plays can be tightly structured or episodic. Regardless of the original inspiration,
the work of the playwright is not just to set forth an idea, to create characters, or tell a story. A playwright
recreates and restates the human experiences and the universal mirror of mankind.
The script is the heart of the theatrical event. It must be respected.
Elements of Drama
Most successful playwrights follow the theories of playwriting and drama that were established over two
thousand years ago by a man named Aristotle. In his works the Poetics Aristotle outlined the six elements
of drama in his critical analysis of the classical Greek tragedy Oedipus Rex written by the Greek playwright,
Sophocles, in the fifth century B.C. The six elements as they are outlined involve: Thought, Theme, Ideas;
Action or Plot; Characters; Language; Music; and Spectacle.
1. Thought/Theme/Ideas
What the play means as opposed to what happens (the plot). Sometimes the theme is clearly stated in the
title. It may be stated through dialogue by a character acting as the playwright’s voice. Or it may be the
theme is less obvious and emerges only after some study or thought. The abstract issues and feelings that
grow out of the dramatic action.
2. Action/Plot
The events of a play; the story as opposed to the theme; what happens rather than what it means. The plot
must have some sort of unity and clarity by setting up a pattern by which each action initiating the next
rather than standing alone without connection to what came before it or what follows. In the plot of a play,
characters are involved in conflict that has a pattern of movement. The action and movement in the play
begins from the initial entanglement, through rising action, climax, and falling action to resolution.
3. Characters
These are the people presented in the play that are involved in the perusing plot. Each character should
have their own distinct personality, age, appearance, beliefs, socio economic background, and language.
4. Language
The word choices made by the playwright and the enunciation of the actors of the language. Language and
dialog delivered by the characters moves the plot and action along, provides exposition, defines the distinct
characters. Each playwright can create their own specific style in relationship to language choices they use
in establishing character and dialogue.
5. Music
Music can encompass the rhythm of dialogue and speeches in a play or can also mean the aspects of the
melody and music compositions as with musical theatre. Each theatrical presentation delivers music,
rhythm and melody in its own distinctive manner. Music is not a part of every play. But, music can be
included to mean all sounds in a production. Music can expand to all sound effects, the actor’s voices,
songs, and instrumental music played as underscore in a play. Music creates patterns and establishes tempo
in theatre. In the aspects of the musical the songs are used to push the plot forward and move the story to
a higher level of intensity. Composers and lyricist work together with playwrights to strengthen the themes
and ideas of the play. Character’s wants and desires can be strengthened for the audience through lyrics
and music.
6. Spectacle
The spectacle in the theatre can involve all of the aspects of scenery, costumes, and special effects in a
production. The visual elements of the play created for theatrical event. The qualities determined by the
playwright that create the world and atmosphere of the play for the audience’s eye.

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The Basic Elements of Theatre

Script/Text, Scenario, Plan:

The script is the heart of the theatrical event. It must be respected.

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