Drama

● Recognize the origin and elements of a good Drama.

● Demonstrate knowledge about the types of drama.
● Appreciate the benefits of drama and the role of the Artist.
● Identify the forms of drama.
● Display an ability to do a drama on stage

You are now studying the subject's last topic.

As you get nearer to the end, I hope you appreciate this topic as much as you like viewing your
favorite drama series, movies, anime, and other media. Before you begin, take a big breath. You've
got this. Fighting!

You got a taste of what we'd talk about by doing the task above. Let us now move on to a more in-
depth discussion of the subject. This chapter will teach you about one of our favorite pastimes: watching
dramas. In our country, drama, teleserye, and even cinematic movies are usually the go-to items when we
want to unwind. Stage plays and theatrical or broadway productions are hugely popular in other nations. It
provides a stress reliever and an excellent opportunity to bond with those we hold dear. Let us investigate
the origins of drama.

Origin and Elements of Drama

Drama is a derivation that means to do or to act, from the Greek word “ Drao.” It was formerly supposed to
have come from the art of dance. Almost every community, both primitive and civilized, has it somehow.
Since it is the best reflection of many stages of life, it has served several purposes. It could be played in
front of an audience on the radio, on TV, or even on stage. The Oxford dictionary defines drama as a
composition in prose or verse, adapted to be acted and represented with accompanying gestures,
costumes, scenery, and real life. It is often based on the regular lives of every individual. Actor, author,
director, designer, and other dramatists are brought together. The artist was asked to appear before an
audience. It was written. For a drama to wow the audience, a good account is necessary. Actors and artists
should characterize their characters properly to ensure that people remain involved in the plot. It should be
carried out with the greatest possible realism and success. When the play is considered good, the
audience will look at the drama and wait for the following episodes or the following plot. We need to know
its elements, such as: to come up with a good play
1. Audience- The audience is the body of theatre-goers that the writer always had in mind when they
wrote the play. The function of the viewers is to witness the production and encourage the actors
through their applause and appreciation.
2. Dialogue- Dialogue is a technique in which the playwright uses two or more characters to engage
in conversation. It has two parts: inner dialogue (the characters speak to themselves and reveal
their personalities like monologues) and outer dialogue (a simple conversation between two
characters in a play).
3. Plot- It refers to the arrangement of events in the story.
4. Stagecraft- refers to the technical aspects of theatrical production, including costume design,
lighting, scenic design, stage machinery, sound, and makeup.
5. Convention- It refers to the technique of actions established by the director to the actors to create
a desired dramatic effect.
6. Genres- refer to the types of acts used in a drama to show realistic characters' emotional and
relational development.
7. Characterization- A writer can pair the Protagonist with the Antagonist. The protagonist is the
main character, while the antagonist is the primary enemy.

Other Dramatic Elements

All drama revolves around dramatic elements. A performer can use them alone and manipulate
them to create a magnificent effect. The following are the other dramatic elements:

1. Climax- is the highest point of dramatic tension or conflict in a story or play. Without the climax, a
story will lack excitement or overarching meaning.
2. Conflict- It is a vital element of drama and scriptwriting. It is a requirement for all dramatic
productions. It might be a combination of two or more characters or a single character (inner
conflict). It can be expressed verbally (physically) or nonverbally (psychological).
3. Contrast- The use of variation in a drama is a helpful way to focus the audience's attention.
Without the careful use of contrast, performance is dull and lacks tension. A prominent example of
contrast is a tragic scene followed by a happy one.
4. Focus- It is used interchangeably with the terms concentration and engagement in assisting the
performer in portraying believable personae. It also implies memorizing words, motions, and
gestures and directing (focused) all of the performer's efforts into achieving the character's stated
aims.
5. Language- Any performance is made possible by the written script. Words can be used verbally
(vocal) or non-verbally in a performance (body language). It can also be shouted or sung. It is the
principal means of conveying the drama's story to the audience.
6. Mood- It refers to the emotion or tone of performance by blending several stagecrafts and
dramatic elements that pleasantly work with each other. Anger, want, frustration, and pity are
prevalent emotions influencing the production mood. Lighting, sound, movement, location, rhythm,
contrast, or conflict can all be used to achieve this.
 7. Rhythm- refers to the play's speed and timing (beat or tempo) as it follows one or more
performance characters' emotional states.
8. Sound- It is a means of creating an atmosphere or mood in a play. Small props sometimes make
sound effects that can be used during a live performance.
9. Space- refers to the practical use of available areas utilized by the actors, such as crawling,
bending over, sitting, or lying down.
10. Symbol- refers to the things or sets and props used in theatre performances. They are planned to
arouse some concept or emotion in the audience's mind.
11. Tension- This can sometimes be similar to the term conflict- tension forms when the audience
anticipates specific outcomes in the plot. The progression of the plot that leads to the climax
frequently follows the building of tension.
12. Timing- refers to the dramatic phases or synchronization of movements and gestures of the
various production parts for theatrical effect.

Types of Drama
1. Tragedy- It is a simulation of an action that is serious, complete, and of absolute level in a play. It
usually depicts the collapse of the protagonist.
2. Comedy- It is a dramatic work humorous in its tone, mostly having a cheerful ending.
3. Problem Play- is a drama that realistically deals with controversial social issues. It exposes social
problems or issues and stimulates thought and discussion on the part of the audience.
4. Farce- It is a comedy that turns around impossible and exaggerated events.
5. Fantasy- This type of drama is often romantic and contains the supernatural, magic, secret
societies, and revenge elements.
6. Melodrama- is a dramatic work in which the plot is designed to appeal to intense emotions and
takes precedence over detailed characterization.

The Development of Drama

1. Ancient Drama- Drama existed in religious ceremonies for the devotion of the different Gods in
Egyptians about 2000 B.C; it was their form of worship for Osiris, their God of the deceased.
2. Medieval Drama- It dealt with Bible stories and allegorical mysteries. There was a gradual
development of the three kinds of medieval play.
2. a Mystery play- a play based on holy scriptures
• Miracle play- play dealing with the life of a Saint or the miracle from the Virgin Mary
(France)
2. b Morality play- where the main characters were abstract aspects like humankind, vices, or
death. The devil was the first comedic character in this morality play, and he was the first comic
figure in this play.
2. c Secular Drama- It's a play about ordinary people, such as professors, lawyers, homemakers,
and a drunken spouse.
3. Renaissance Drama- The Greek and Roman dramatists were imitated in Italy, France, the Roman
Empire of the German people, and England due to the rediscovery of classical literature. During
this period, masks and costumes become popular. The drama was primarily produced in the 16th
century by the English, who used it as entertainment for all social classes throughout Queen
Elizabeth I's reign.
 4. The drama of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries- French drama arose in the 17th century due to
medieval and religious influences. It eventually transitioned to classical tragedies and great
comedies, making France a ridiculous comedy powerhouse. Theaters were closed during civil wars
and commonwealth eras in England near the 18th century. It was only reopened under the reign of
Charles I when the focus of theater production shifted from tragedies to comedies. An excellent
theater movement blossomed throughout Europe in the 19th century, moving from comedy to
Romantic dramas.
5. Modern Drama- Credit should be given to a Norwegian dramatist named Ibsen for his enormous
impact on the creation of modern drama through his work output during this period. It sparked a
massive surge of spectacular action all over the place. Many trends in the play emerged during the
last two decades of the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century. Romantic
fantasy reigned supreme in France, whereas symbolism and expressionism reigned supreme in
Germany and the United States. Impressionism, comedy, and lyrical theater rose to new heights in
England, Ireland, France, Spain, and the United States.

Drama Forms

Dramatic forms are composed of various structures that define, distinguish, and shape the subject
matter. Movement, improvisation, speaking, and scene work are common examples. When presenting your
creation, it is the approach you choose to communicate your story and explore themes.
1. Movement
a. Clowning- is the act that draws skill-based exaggerated movements and gestures to create
humor for the viewer
b. Dance- is the execution of a creative, free, and exploratory series of actions performed with
or without music.
c. Mask Work- explores movement using a mask to focus on the body's physical expression.
d. Mime- It is pantomime acting without words and is through facial expression, gesture, and
movement.
e. Stage Fighting- is a choreographed movement designed to simulate fighting between
actors.
f. Tableau- is a silent and motionless scene created by actors to focus on the drama's central
theme.
2. Improvisation
a. The Character in a Role- is a person's role-playing character in a particular situation.
b. Improvisational Drama- is a spontaneous theatre style in which no set of script and scenes
are created without preparation.
c. Role Play- It is an activity in which individuals assume identities other than their own.
d. Spontaneous Stories- narratives are made in a verbal warm-up activity.
3. Speech
a. Choral Work- It refers to ensemble speech or singing.
b. Monologues- It is a long speech by a single character.
c. Radio Drama- is a drama intended to be listening instead of viewed.
d. Reader's Theatre- is a performance created by actors through reading a script.
e. Recitation- The oral presentation of a scripted work often involves ballads, monologues,
and rhymes.
 f. Soundscape- It uses various overlapping sounds to produce an atmosphere.
g. Storytelling- It refers to involving stories to an audience.
4. Scene Works
a. Collective Creation- It is a group process of writing an original script.
b. Docudrama- It uses dramatic devices to illustrate a real-life situation through performance.
c. Puppetry- includes a wide variety of props that almost anything brought to life by human
hands to create a performance.
d. Story Theatre- refers to a theatrical production of a real story where the characters speak
every storyline.