Jonabhel C.

Gallardo
Theatrical Arts
There are 3 Elements of Drama:
1. Literary Elements - or narrative element. Basically, it is the plot structure and an
element of literature that is a necessary feature of storytelling as it is the flow of the story.
There are 6 stages of plot structure:
a. Initial incident - this is the event that "gets the story going". Where the
viewers will hook their attention into the story and sets everything else that
happens into motion. This moment is when an event thrusts the protagonist
into the main action of the story.
Example: A mouse in the bakery.
b. Preliminary event - whatever takes place before the action of the play that is
directly related to the play is the preliminary event.
Example: Finding out there are more mice.
c. Rising action - a series of events following the initial incident and it will lead
to dramatic climax in which the tension stemming from the story's central
conflict will grow through successive plot developments.
Example: Buying a cat to help with the problem but the cat is not helping.
Poisoning the mice but then realizing it doesn’t work either.
d. Climax - turning point or highest point of the story. It is the time when the
action starts during which the solution is given or it can be the confrontation
between the protagonist and antagonist. A climax resolves the main conflict of
the story and is the moment the main character reaches—or fails to reach—
their goal.
Example: The first customer realizes that there is an infestation.
e. Falling action - it is what happens near the end of a story after the climax and
resolution of the major conflict.
Example: The mice are winning and the bakery is closing.
f. Denouement - from French word which means "unraveling". Another term for
ending or conclusion and the matter inside the story resolves in this part.
Example: The baker gets a job in a supermarket after his bakery get closed.
Other Literary Elements:
a. Exposition - Who, When, Where, and What part of the play. By this 4Ws you
can see the background information within a story or narrative.
b. Story Organization - is how a story told or laid out - the beginning, middle and
the end.
c. Conflict – the character can’t achieve his/her objective since there in an
obstacle.
 Internal conflict -the conflict is between the character and his/herself
 External conflict -the conflict is between the character and someone or
the environment.
 d. Suspense – the part where there is a feeling of uncertainty of what will happen
in the story. It causes interest and excitement to the viewers towards the story.
e. Language - spoken language and also called speech in the drama. Also, it is
the particular manner of verbal expression, diction or style of writing, and the
phrasing that suggests a class or profession.
f. Style - it is the manner of how something was expressed or perform. It can be
the shape of the dramatic material, settings, and even costumes.
g. Monologue - a long speech made by one actor that can be directly address to
another character or to the audience.
h. Soliloquy - it is the passage of the drama that the actor is alone in the stage
while delivering his speech in which the character expresses his thoughts and
feelings aloud.

2. Technical Elements – equipments used in a theatrical drama.

a. Scenery (set) - it is the theatrical equipment, such as curtains, flats, backdrops
or platforms for dramatic production to project the environment setting of the
story.
b. Costumes - clothing or any accessories worn by the actors to portray
characters in the story.
c. Props - short for properties. All of the objects that was used in the theatrical
drama except for scenery and costumes, that is considered a movable or
portable object during a performance, is what you called props such as
telephone, train, flashlights, bags, pencil, etc.
Other Technical Elements:
a. Lights – it is the placement, intensity, and color of the lights that helps to
project the environment, mood or feeling that will impact on the way the stage
picture is perceived and to the overall dramatic impact of a production.
b. Sound - sound effects can enhance the atmosphere and mood for a production
and also set the time or location.
c. Makeup - it consists of the costumes, wigs, body paint or any cosmetics to
transform the actor into a certain character.

3. Performance Elements – components for the actors that must be maintained control
over certain physical actions while performing.
a. Acting - movement, gesture and intonation and even face, body, and voice that are
used to portray character.
b. Character motivation – reason/s for a character's behavior, thoughts, feelings and
actions. It can be the previous life of the character which informs the viewers.
c. Character analysis - it is the process of evaluating the character's traits, their role in
the story and the conflicts they experience. The 3 elements of drama that are used are
also examined in here.
d. Empathy - ability to understand and to relate to the feelings of another.
We have Verbal and Non-verbal Expressions under Performance Elements.
 Verbal Expressions:
a. Speaking - delivery of lines that are simultaneously playing a role as a
character in a story. Example is the conversation among the actors.
b. Breath control - proper use of the lungs and diaphragm muscle for maximum
capacity and efficiency of breath for speaking. It affects the range, volume,
and speed of both speaking and singing especially for the actors in the stage.
c. Vocal expression - it is how the actor uses his or her voice to convey
character, emotion, and color. Every sound of the voice, the pitch, pace,
pause, power, and pronunciation convey a message to the audience.
d. Inflection - it is the change in pitch or loudness of the voice.
e. Projection - how well the voice carries the audience. It is the strength of
speaking or singing whereby the voice is used powerfully and clearly to
command attention.
f. Speaking style - mode of expression or delivery of lines. it can be in a style
that conveys any happiness, sadness, or any emotion to another person.
g. Diction - it refers to the word choice and the pronunciation, correct tone and
the clarity of the speech.
 Non-verbal Expressions:
a. Gestures - it is a sign that communicates a character's action. any movement
from the actor's head, shoulder, arm, hand, leg, foot, to convey meaning.
b. Facial expression - facial aspects of the actor to convey and express emotion,
feeling, or personality about the character. It is also the way he/she reacts in to
the situation.