Theater and Drama

11

Theatre and Drama

Surely, you enjoy watching live performance of dramatic actions that

tells a story or creates a spectacle.

In this lesson, you will encounter the theater as a performing art,

that tells a story on stage, and be familiar with the elements of
theatre and drama, and view a brief history these art forms.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

1. discuss theatre and drama as a performing arts;

2. explain the elements of drama; and

3. appreciate the benefits derived from theatre and drama

Theater and Drama

Drama means to act or to do from the Greek dran. It means

action literally. It is a composition in prose for enactment
intended to portray life or character or to tell a story by action
and dialogue. It is a process geared to the participant and does
not require a formal audience.

Theatre is a building specifically designed for the purpose of

presenting dramatic performances before an audience (Collier,
1995). It includes drama activities which may lead to formal
presentation of a scripted play involving acting, directing,
designing, and other technical aspects.

The Basic Elements of Theatre (Terrin Adair-Lynch)

Script/Text, Scenario, Plan

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Script is a written version of a play or other dramatic

composition. It is used in preparing for a theatrical performance.
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 used as a blue print to build a
production from.

The Process

This is the element that refers to the work in progress stage. It is

where the work of the playwright is realized by the director,
actors, designers, technicians, dancers, musicians, and any
other collaborators that come together on the script, scenario, or
plan.

The Product

This is the finished work. This is what the viewers witness as they
sit in the theatre and watch the work.

The Audience

The audience is indispensable in the theatre. The physical

presence of an audience is very essential as it can change a
performance, inspire actors, and create expectations. The
presence of live actors on the stage in front of live audiences
differentiates it from modern day films and television.

The playwright writes and produces plays for the theatre. He

writes the literary composition specifically for the stage in play
format.

Elements of Drama

The elements of drama below are outlined from the work of

Aristotle “Poetics.” which he used for 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.
Thought/Theme/Ideas
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The theme contains the meaning of the play. This is mostly the
abstract issues and feelings that grow out of the dramatic action
of the characters. Sometimes, this is straightforwardly stated in
the title or it may be inserted into the dialogue of a character.
The theme may also be less obvious and would only emerge
after some study or thought.
Action/Plot
Plot/action is the arrangement of action and movement in the
play. The action and movement in the play begin from the initial
complication, through rising action, climax, and falling action to
resolution.
Characters

These are the people presented in the play that are involved in
developing the plot. Each character should have his own distinct
personality, age, appearance, beliefs, socio-economic
background, and language.

Language

Language and dialogue delivered by the characters move the

plot and action along. They provide exposition and define the
distinct characters. Each playwright can create their own
specific style in relationship to language choices that they use in
establishing character and dialogue.

Music

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. There is a need for the composers and
lyricists to work hand in hand with the playwright to strengthen
the themes and ideas of the play. This element enables the
characters to relate with the audience through lyrics and music.

Spectacle

The spectacle in the theatre involves all the visual elements of

the play - all of the aspects of scenery, costumes, and special
effects in a production. These include the qualities determined
by the playwright that create the world and atmosphere of the
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play for the audience‟s eye.

Genre/Forms of Drama

Drama is divided into the categories of tragedy, comedy,

melodrama, and tragicomedy. Each of these genre/forms can
be further subdivided by style and content.

Tragedy

Tragedy is a serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude

action and deals with intense problems. It arouses pity and fear
in the audience as it witnesses the action. In classical tragedy,
we find a protagonist at the center of the drama that is a great
person, usually of upper class birth. Tragedy involves the
audience in the action and creates tension and expectation.

Comedy

This genre should have the view of a “comic spirit” and is

physical and energetic. It is tied up in rebirth and renewal. This
is the reason most comedy end in weddings, which suggest a
union of a couple and the expected birth of children. Comedy
creates light feelings. The playwright uses comic devices such as
exaggeration, incongruity, surprise, repetition, wisecracks, and
sarcasm.

Melodrama

Melodrama is drama of disaster and differs from tragedy

significantly. The protagonist is usually a victim of
circumstance. He is acted upon by the antagonist or anti-hero
and suffers without having to accept responsibility and
inevitability of fate. Melodrama has a sense of strict moral
judgment. All issues presented in the plays are resolved in a
well-defined way. The good characters are rewarded and the
bad characters are punished in a means that fits the crime.

Tragicomedy

Tragicomedy is the most lifelike of all of the genres. It focuses on

character relationships and shows society in a state of
continuous change. There is a mix of comedy and tragedy side
by side in these types of plays.
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Purpose of Drama
Drama captures the essence of a culture or a group within that
culture. It reveals the attitudes and opinions of their time.

Below are purposes of drama:

Improvisation

Improvisation is the ability to do something spontaneously to new

and unexpected situations. Drama gives us the opportunity
to hone our improvisation skills. Life is improvisation. We
respond in new ways when spontaneous and unexpected
things occur to us.

Play Making

In drama, you will be expected to create plays. Play making is the

process of experimenting with new roles. Through plays you
can re-examine old roles and challenge society‟s values and
interpretations.

Drama as a cooperative process

In drama, you are asked to participate in group work. This helps you
explore relationships on and off stage. It helps your
communication skills and helps you make friends on
campus.

Philippine Drama and Theatre

Dramatic forms during the Spanish Period were the: Carillo or

Shadow Play
- Held before a lamp, are shadows of cardboard figures
projected on screen.
- A prompter provides the dialogue with the story line taken
from legends , fables, or metrical romances

Comedia or Komedya or Moro-Moro

- The most popular theater during Spain‟s 100 years reign.
Stories revolve around battles between Muslims and
Christians presented with colorful costumes and
choreography
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Loa
• A short performance presented before a long drama to
introduce the main drama and praise its performers
• Panunuluyan. It is a street play dramatizing the rooming-in of
Mary and Joseph for shelter in Bethlehem during Christmas
Eve

Cenakulo or Senakulo

• The pasyon or passion of Christ dramatized

Tibag (tear down)

• Reenactment of Emperor Cosntantine or Empress Helena‟s

search for the true cross. A procession during the
Santacruzan is the climax of the performance

Salubong

• An Easter presentation re-enacting the meeting of Mary and

the resurrected Christ

Zarswela or sarswela
• Three-in one act play with songs and dances
• Depicts political conditions of our country, feelings of love,
fear, grief, sorrow or any sublime emotion

Drama simbolika or symbolic drama

• Indigenous revolutionary drama
• Has patriotic contents written by playwrights who cherished
the ideals of the Philippine Revolution

20th century
- the most dramatic period in Philippine theatre marked the
radical changes from Moro-moro to modern cinema.

Noted Filipino dramatists and their works

- Aurelio Tolentino - Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas (1903)

- Tomas Remigio - Malaya (1902)
- Juan Abad – Tanikalang Ginto (1902)
- Juan Matapang Cruz – Hindi ako Patay (1902)
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- Severino Reyes – R.I.P.; Kalupi; Walang sugat

- Hermogenes Ilagan - Dalagang Bukid; Ang Kiri
- Juan F. Bartolome - Kailan Man ay Buhay

Personal Benefits

As students, studying drama benefits you a lot. It helps you build your
self-confidence to speak in public and to develop your
interpersonal skills. Drama helps you to be more aware of
how your physical presentation can affect the way people see
you. Ethically, it provides you motivation to start to evaluate
your own values and beliefs.

Drama Influences Lives

Drama plays a major role in your lives. You all experience 'real life‟
drama in the form of your own personal experiences as well
as „real life‟ drama in the news and current affairs. You are
also exposed to fictional drama in film, on television, and in
the theatre. By studying drama, you gather values that are
good or bad. The decision to be influenced by the morals
delivered by the drama lies in you.

Some important terms to remember in theatre and drama:

actor: a person who performs in a play.

backdrop: a large cloth (or paper) that is painted and hung as

scenery.

blackout: when all lights are simultaneously turned off to

indicate the end of a scene.

blocking: a plan that indicates where an actor stands and

moves.

Break a leg!: a theatre expression meaning "Good luck!".

cast: the actors in a play.

center stage: the middle portion of the stage floor.

character: a person in a story that an actor plays.

Theater and Drama

choreographer: a person who plans and teaches movements –

like dances and fight sequences – to actors.

costume director: a person who designs and makes the

costumes actors wear.

cue: a signal that tells an actor when to speak or move

curtain call: actors gather on stage at the end of a performance

to receive applause.

director: the person who interprets the play and provides

direction to the actors and designers.

downstage: the area of the stage that is closest to the audience.

dress rehearsal: the last rehearsal before a play opens with

actors in full costume.

foley artist: a person who creates sounds for film or theatre

using a variety of objects to enhance the sound effects.

giving focus: an actor on stage does not move or talk so that

audience attention is drawn to another actor who is moving or
talking.

improvisation: a drama that is not scripted, but is made up as

you go.

lighting designer: a person who plans what lights are used and
when they are used to help create a setting.

makeup designer: a person who makes actors‟ faces resemble

the characters they are playing.

mime: an actor who performs without words.

monologue: a scene when only one actor speaks.

offstage: the area of the stage that is not seen by an audience.

onstage: the area of a stage where actors perform.

pantomime: a story performed without words.

producer: the person who arranges the financing of a play.

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prop: short for properties. Any object used by an actor.

proscenium: a decorative frame that arches around the stage‟s

acting area.

script: a play in written form.

set: the acting area including props and scenery.

set designer: the person who designs the scenery for a play.

sound designer: the person who selects the music and sounds
used in a play.

stage crew: people who set up scenery and change it between

scenes of a play.

stage directions: instructions given to actors to tell them when

and where to move on stage.

stage left: the area of stage that is on the actor‟s left.

stage manager: the person who makes sure a performance runs

as planned.

stage right: the area of stage that is on the actor‟s right.

taking focus: the actor speaks confidently and makes

intentional movements in a way that gets the audience‟s
attention.

upstage: the back of the stage or the area that is the farthest
away from the audience.
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References

Ariola, M. (2008). Introduction to art appreciation: A textbook in

humanities. Quezon City: C & E Publishing, Inc

Aristotle‟s Elements of Theatre. (Retrieved on June 30, 2011

atwww.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1702019.htm)

Elements of Theatre and Drama (Retrieved on July 2, 2011 at

homepage.smc.edu/adair-lynch_terrin/.../elements.htm

Espina, F.P. et al. (2004). Katha Publishing Company.

Maguigad, R. et al. (2007). Humanities for Filipinos. Manila:

Libro

Ramirez, V.E., Leynes, M.A. and Fajardo, B.V. (2008). Minding

the arts: Art Appreciation in College. Malabon City: Mutya
Publishing House, Inc.

Theatre Terms & Definitions. (Retrieved on July 2, 2011 at

www.shvoong.com )