Drama

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 derived from the Greek word drao, which means to do or act. It was once believed to have
originated from the art of dance. Almost every community, whether primitive or advanced, possesses it in
some way. As the most accurate depiction of life's stages, it has served multiple purposes. It could be
performed before an audience on the radio, television, or even the stage. Drama is defined by the Oxford
dictionary as a composition in prose or verse that is adapted to be acted and represented with
accompanying gestures, costumes, and scenery. It is frequently based on the daily lives of individuals.
Actors, authors, directors, and designers are brought together with other dramatists. The artist was
requested to perform in front of an audience. It was composed. For a drama to captivate the audience, a
compelling account is required. Actors and artists should properly characterize their characters to keep the
audience engaged in the plot. It should be executed with the most realism and success possible. When the
play is deemed successful, the audience will watch the drama and anticipate the subsequent episodes or
plot. To compose a good play, we must be familiar with its elements, such as:

1. Audience- The writer wrote the play with the audience in mind. The role of the audience is to
observe the performance and encourage the actors through applause and praise.
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.
a. Mystery play- a play based on holy scriptures
b. Miracle play- play dealing with the life of a Saint or the miracle from the Virgin Mary (France)
c. 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.
d. 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. During the final two decades of the nineteenth
 century and the first fifty years of the twentieth century, a number of significant events occurred, a
number of significant developments occurred. In France, romantic fantasy dominated, whereas
symbolism and expressionism dominated in Germany and the United States. Impressionism, comedy,
and lyrical theater reached new heights in the United States, England, Ireland, France, and Spain.

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 skillful use of exaggerated movements and gestures to create comedy for the
audience.
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- consists of a vast array of props that include virtually anything brought to life by
human hands in order to create a performance.
d. Story Theatre- refers to a theatrical production of a real story where the characters speak
every storyline.