Creating the Play

Creates the starting point or script that the production is based

the people of the play… the dramatic characters

what the characters do. the heart of theatre involves action.

derives from the Greek root dran, which means ‘to do’ or ‘to act’

Limited space, limited time, strongly opposed forces, balance of forces, incentive, and motivation

stage itself has limited space

- The length of “actual” time the play is to be completed. Most plays average from 1 to 3 hours
- the time limit or deadline for the characters within the play

People who are bound to react upon each other

A relatively equal contest is implicit

characters are trying to achieve something… money, power, love

the arrangement of events or the selection and order of scenes in a play; is a selection and arrangement of scenes take from a story for presentation on stage

full account of an event, or series of events, usually told in a chronological order

a dramatist can show us in 2 hours the entire history of a person, while in our real life we will meet people, daily, which we know nothing about

The first scene of a drama starts the action and sets the tone and style for everything that follows, and playwright poses the initial problems for the characters

impediments, something that makes progress or movement difficult or impossible, put in a characters way.

outside forces or twists in the plot introduced at an opportune moment.

result of conflict, obstacles, and complications

the final and most significant crisis is referred to as the climax. In the final climax the issues of the play are finally resolved.