Plot, action and content

Teen pregnancy theme in popular soap 'Eastenders'

• The plot of the drama is shown in the 'through-line' of the drama - its beginning, middle and end - although it doesn't have to be presented in a linear [linear: To follow a series of events in real-time without the use of flash-backs or flash-forwards ] structure. The characters in a play are also part of the plot.
• The action of the drama consists in the events that the characters take part in as they act the play.
• The content of the drama lies in the themes it deals with, eg bullying, the responsibilities of power, the bravery of ordinary people etc.

Dramatic form

The form of a drama is the way that the story is told, the way the characters play their parts, and/or the way the themes are explored.

There are various dramatic forms, for example:

• mime
• choral readings
• commedia dell'arte (improvised theatre)
• melodrama
• physical theatre [physical theatre: A mime technique in which actors use their bodies to create props or part of the set ]
• combinations of various forms and styles

You'll need to choose the best way to communicate your drama.

Climax/anti-climax

The use of climax and anti-climax (the building and releasing of tension) in a drama is crucial, as it creates a sense of expectation in the audience. We can become incredibly tense as we wait to see what's going to happen in a play, and then we're relieved when things turn out well. It all adds to an interesting experience.

Climax building up in 'Eastenders'

For example, will the guard notice that the escape tunnel entrance is partly uncovered? If the action is slowed down - perhaps because he sits down and talks for a while - the tension rises as we watch him. If the guard leaves without noticing the tunnel, the tension releases and we sigh with relief. It's up to the director of a drama to create the climax and anti-climax that make sure this happens.

Contrast

The use of contrast in drama productions - eg stillness contrasted with activity, or silence contrasted with noise - is a useful way to focus the audience's attention. A drama being played with no change of pace or rhythm doesn't usually hold our interest, but most can be brought to life with the use of contrasting sights and sounds.

An example of such contrast could be in a courtroom drama. At first there's the hustle and bustle of bringing in the prisoner, with everyone scurrying around trying to see and hear the judge's pronouncement. Then there's the sound of the gavel banging on his desk - and the resulting quiet before he pronounces the sentence. The audience can't fail to be interested!

Characterisation

The way an actor plays a role, using his/her acting skills to create a character in a drama, is known as characterisation.

Think about how we describe someone. Of course everyone looks a bit different, but a person's character can be shown in many ways, and this is where the actor's skill comes in. You can show a character in the way they walk and move (body language [body language: The non-verbal way in which a person communicates their physical and mental state through using facial expressions, gesture and posture ]), in the way they speak (vocal qualities) and in their reaction to events in the drama.

When creating a character we may use techniques such as hot-seating [hot-seating: To question an individual while they remain in character ] to develop the role, but we also need to think about these other aspects of presenting the character so they can 'come alive' within the drama.

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Dramatic conventions

There's a range of dramatic conventions (techniques) that have been used to create dramatic effects in plays and spectacles for centuries. Among these are:

• slow motion
• freeze-frame
• audience aside
• soliloquy [soliloquy: A speech performed by an individual, often depicting that person thinking or talking aloud ]
• establishing one part of the space as one location, and a different part of the space as another location

Symbols

Prop - torn wedding photograph - what could it represent?

Dramas are produced to a great extent through the use of symbols - or representations - standing in for real things. Many of the following can be understood as symbols.

• props (eg a torn wedding photograph to represent a divorce)
• gestures (eg finger on lips as a symbol of silence)
• expressions (eg open mouth to represent surprise)
• costume (a white costume as a symbol of innocence)
• lighting (eg blue lighting to represent night-time)
• setting (dry ice vapour to represent a snowy wood)