ELEMENTS OF DRAMA

• Writer – playwright
• Plot – actions (the audience is not told what happens, but SHOWN)
• Script * – made up of dialogue and stage directions
• Play – divided into acts and scenes (each act is made up of scenes)
• Setting – time and place (usually described at the beginning in the stage
directions)
• Internal conflict – struggle in the protagonist’s mind
• Characters
• DIALOGUE
The words spoken by the characters
Reveals the characters’ thoughts and feelings
Reveals the conflict
Reveals a character through speech, interaction with other characters,
comments made by/about other characters
Moves the action forward
DICTION: the words chosen by the author to convey a particular meaning
• STAGE DIRECTIONS
(HOW THE CHARACTERS SPEAK AND MOVE)

 Tell the actors how to perform (their movements, facial expressions and tone
 Lights and effects
 Set/scenery and props small objects used to help make the actions of the
characters more realistic

Onstage construction that suggests the setting