DRAMA

DRAMA
is mainly the art of depicting or
portraying potential or imagined events
and experiences
considers series of events developed to
be acted out on stage, with lines,
inactions, and silences intended to
establish impressions
based on Aristotle’s Poetics, is the
“imitation of an action”
 ESSENTIAL FEATURES
OF DRAMA
Drama as a form of Dramatic Art.
-bears some emotional force or effect and
vitality
Drama as a form of Visual Art.
-involves depiction and makes it engaging
(uses elements such as lights, set design,
images and media experimentations)
Drama as an Auditory Art.
-lines and silences bear important dramatic
impacts that can make the performance much
appealing and moving
Drama is physically Produced Art.
-playwrights can establish an intimate and very close
connection to the audience; can mainly touch and tap
all the major senses
Drama is a Spectacular Art.
-a dramatic work is always open to some necessary
changes during rehearsals and after the performance
as may be revealed by reviews
Drama is a Continuous Art.
-audiences must receive the story at any pace as the
playwright may decide as to whatever pace the play
may be set
HISTORY OF DRAMA
• Ancient religious ceremonies had been
the viewed as the “cradle of the earliest
forms of drama”.
• In ancient Greece, Greek drama
originated from rituals to venerate
Dionysus.
• In such ceremony, dancing of the chorus
was introduced and later on, the dialogue
was added.
 Genres of Drama
Tragedy
-depicts a very serious dramatic atmosphere
-the lead character encounters misfortunes because of
fate, moral weakness, or social opposition that may
lead to a disastrous or catastrophic end
-may involve physical or spiritual death or breakdown
Comedy
-a literary composition intended to amuse the viewing
crowd
-it mainly presents human actions and behaviors lightly
-the characters encounter difficulties but later on, find
happiness
Tragicomedy
- it combines the conventions of tragic and comic
elements and despite tragic circumstances; the story
still ends happily
- a serious play exhibiting some qualities of comedy
- can be a commentary on a society’s unpleasant
manners, behaviors, and practices that lead to laughter
and a happy ending
- discomfort is experienced in sarcasm
- may challenge the audience to think why they need to
laugh at something which is somewhat primarily
frightening
Closet Drama
- a written work or a play which is intended to be read,
not performed on stage
- It sometimes refers to works which are unsuccessful
in theater and are perceived to be more enjoyable to
read

Farce
- a comic drama in form and is primarily amusing and
entertaining
- characters and scenes are mainly exaggerated
Melodrama
- this is usually accompanied with music and with a
song set at a different pace
- it is seen now as a romantic play without serious,
comic, or tragic significance
- actions are often too violent but still virtue dominates
and succeeds

Miracle Plays
- usually about stories taken from the Bible or the lives
of saints
Elements of Drama
 Setting
- covers the scenery and physical elements that
transpire on stage to depict the writer’s perspective
as to stage design

 Characters
- as the conflict develops, the characters are
revealed
- their behaviors are revealed by their words,
behaviors toward other characters, movements,
gestures, and ways on how they express their
thoughts and feelings
 Plot
- heavily refers to the action of a drama
- it also involves the sequence of related events and
scenes
- greatly depends and lies on the conflict of the
characters

 Dialogue
- the conversation and exchanges between or
among characters it helps to tell the whole story
- an element that helps reveal the characters,
emotions, conflicts, further actions, and themes
 Movements
- it mainly involves the pacing and transition of
acts

 Music
- serves as the background used during
performances
- this is somewhat used occasionally to establish a
dramatic effect
- this can be done live or provided technically
 Theme
- this tells what the play is about or the message
the play attempts to reveal
- a play may convey a number of themes
TERMS USED IN DRAMA
ACT
- is a division or unit of theater work including a play,
film, opera and musical theatre

CATHARSIS
- process of releasing and thereby providing relief from
strong or repressed emotions

DEUS EX MACHINA
- “ a god from a machine”; crane that held a god over
the stage in ancient Greece and Roman drama. Unexpected
power or event saving seemingly hopeless situation.
 DRAMATIS PERSONAE
- characters of a play, novel or narrative

 DRAMATIC UNITIES
- unities of time, place and action as specified by
Aristotle in his poetics

 HAMARTIA
- fatal flaw leading to the downfall of a tragic
hero/heroine
 PANTOMIME
- performers express meaning through gestures
accompanied by music

 PERIPETEIA
- sudden reversal of fortune; change in
circumstances
TYPES OF THEATRE
 ARENA
- theatre-in-the-round; audience surrounds the
stage

 MEDIEVAL THEATRE
- open to air with banked seating surrounding a
raised stage

 ELIZABETHAN THEATRE
- a raised stage at one end which was surrounded
by three tiers of roofed galleries
TYPES OF THEATRE
 PROSCENIUM
- the frame or arch separating the stage from the
auditorium

 THEATRE OF CRUELTY
- aims to shock audiences through gesture, image,
sound and lighting

 ECLECTIC THEATRE
- incorporates theaters: epic, absurdist and
oppressed.
ARENA
MEDIEVAL THEATRE
ELIZABETHAN THEATRE
PROSCENIUM
ECLECTIC THEATRE
THEATRE OF CRUELTY