Drama and Theatre – JSS1 Cultural & Creative Arts Lesson Note (First Term)

Drama and theatre are forms of art used to express human experiences through performance. Drama is the written text or story, while theatre is the live performance of that text before an audience.

Behavioural objectives

1. Define drama and theatre.
2. State the origin of drama and theatre.
3. List the elements of drama and the elements of theatre.
4. Name the people involved in drama and theatre and say what each does.
5. Describe the main types of drama and theatre.
6. State the importance of drama and theatre and the skills drama develops.

What is drama?

Drama is an art form that tells a story through the speech and actions of characters.

• As a text: a composition in prose or verse that presents a story through dialogue and action.
• As literature: a literary work written to be performed in a theatre.
• As a representation: the showing of human conflict and emotion through performance.

What is theatre?

Theatre is the art of presenting drama live before an audience.

• As an art: a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers.
• As a place: the building or space where dramatic performances take place.
• As a combination: acting, staging and technical elements working together.

What is the difference between drama and theatre?

Drama is the story written down as a script. Theatre is the staging of that script by performers for an audience.

What is the origin of drama and theatre?

Drama and theatre began in ancient Greece, in religious festivals.

• Religious festivals: Greek drama grew out of festivals honouring the god Dionysus.
• The word “drama”: it comes from the Greek “dran”, meaning “to do” or “to act”.
• Early forms: ritual performances and storytelling came before written plays.
• Greek playwrights: Sophocles and Euripides helped to develop dramatic structure.
• Theatre buildings: early Greek theatres were built outdoors, often on hillsides.

What are the elements of drama?

There are six elements of drama: plot, character, dialogue, setting, theme and conflict.

Plot

Plot is the sequence of events in a story.

• Structure: it has a beginning, a middle and an end.
• Function: it creates conflict and tension and drives the story forward.

The plot has five stages, in this order:

1. Exposition: introduces the characters, setting and situation.
2. Rising action: events build up the conflict and tension.
3. Climax: the turning point, where tension is highest.
4. Falling action: events that follow the climax and ease the tension.
5. Resolution: the conflict is settled and the story ends.

Character

Characters are the people in the story.

• Protagonist: the main character, whom the story follows.
• Antagonist: the character who opposes the protagonist.
• Supporting characters: other characters who help to tell the story.
• Development: characters have distinct personalities and motives and may change as the story goes on.

Dialogue

Dialogue is the conversation between characters.

• Personality: it reveals what each character is like.
• Plot: it moves the story forward.
• Information: it tells the audience what they need to know.
• Tension: arguments and secrets in speech create dramatic tension.

Setting

Setting is the time and place of the story.

• Atmosphere: it creates the mood of the play.
• Behaviour: it influences how characters act.
• Kinds: it can be realistic or symbolic.
• Environment: it includes the physical and the social surroundings.

Theme

Theme is the central idea or message of a play.

• Meaning: it is what the play is really about.
• Universal ideas: examples are justice, greed, love and honesty.
• Number: a play can have more than one theme.
• Link: it connects the play to human experience.

Conflict

Conflict is the struggle between opposing forces in a play.

• Man vs. Man: one character struggles against another.
• Man vs. Self: a character struggles with their own feelings or choices, such as guilt.
• Man vs. Society: a character struggles against laws, customs or the community.
• Man vs. Nature: a character struggles against forces such as a storm or flood.

• Effect: conflict creates dramatic tension and drives plot development.

What are the elements of theatre?

There are six elements of theatre: performers, audience, director, script, theatrical space and design elements.

Performers

• Who they are: actors and actresses.
• Role: they bring characters to life using voice, body and emotion.
• Task: they interpret the script and connect with the audience.

Audience

• Importance: the audience is an essential part of theatre and completes the experience.
• Feedback: it responds at once through laughter, silence or applause.
• Energy: its reaction adds energy to the performance.
• Shared experience: everyone watches the same play together.

Director

• Role: guides the whole production.
• Script: interprets the script.
• Actors: works with the actors in rehearsal.
• Coordination: brings all the elements together into one clear production.

Script or text

• Meaning: the written play.
• Content: it gives the dialogue and the stage directions.
• Use: it is the blueprint for the production.
• Source: it can be original or adapted from another work.

Theatrical space

The theatrical space is the venue where the performance takes place.

• Proscenium: the audience faces the stage through a frame-like opening.
• Thrust: the stage extends into the audience, which sits on three sides.
• Arena: the audience sits all around the stage.
• Black box: a plain room where stage and seats can be arranged in different ways.

• Effect: the space influences staging choices and the link between performers and audience.
• Backstage: it also includes areas the audience does not see.

Design elements

• Set design: the physical environment of the play.
• Costume design: the clothes that show each character.
• Lighting design: mood and visibility on stage.
• Sound design: sound effects and music.
• Makeup design: changes the look of an actor to suit the character.

Who are the people involved in drama and theatre?

The people in a production work in three teams: the creative team, the design team and the technical team.

Creative team

• Playwright: writes the script.
• Director: guides the production.
• Actors: perform the roles.
• Choreographer: creates the movement and dances.
• Musical director: handles the music.

Design team

• Set designer: creates the scenery.
• Costume designer: creates the clothing.
• Lighting designer: plans the lighting.
• Sound designer: creates the audio effects.
• Props master: manages the objects actors use.

Technical team

• Stage manager: coordinates the production during rehearsals and shows.
• Technical director: oversees the technical elements.
• Crew members: operate the equipment.
• Wardrobe staff: look after the costumes.
• Makeup artists: apply the makeup.

What are the types of drama?

There are five types of drama: tragedy, comedy, tragicomedy, melodrama and farce.

Tragedy

• Meaning: serious drama with an unhappy ending.
• Hero: a noble protagonist with a fatal flaw.
• Themes: fate and suffering.
• Examples: Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet.
• Effect: it arouses pity and fear.

Comedy

• Meaning: light-hearted drama with a happy ending.
• Style: it uses humour and wit.
• Plot: it often involves misunderstandings.
• Effect: it celebrates human nature and makes the audience laugh.

Tragicomedy

• Meaning: drama that combines elements of tragedy and comedy.
• Style: serious themes told with humour.
• Effect: mixed emotions that reflect the complexity of real life.

Melodrama

• Emotions: exaggerated.
• Characters: a clear struggle of good against evil.
• Plot: sensational.
• Music: used to heighten the mood.
• Appeal: popular entertainment.

Farce

• Meaning: extreme comedy.
• Humour: mainly physical.
• Situations: improbable.
• Pace: fast-moving action.
• Characters: stereotyped.

How do tragedy and comedy differ?

What are the types of theatre?

There are three main types of theatre in this topic: Western theatre, traditional African theatre and Nigerian theatre forms.

Western theatre

• Origin: began in ancient Greece.
• Styles: includes many styles and periods.
• Base: a text-based tradition.
• Forms: realistic and abstract.
• Performers: professional and amateur.

Traditional African theatre

• Art forms: combines music, dance and storytelling.
• Setting: community-based performances.
• Purpose: ritual and ceremonial elements.
• Transmission: passed on by oral tradition.
• Dress: masks and costumes.

Nigerian theatre forms

• Traditional performances: festival, masquerade and storytelling performances in communities.
• Travelling theatre groups: companies that move from town to town to perform, such as the one led by Hubert Ogunde.
• University theatre: plays staged by theatre arts departments and students.
• Nollywood influence: the film industry shapes how stories and acting are presented.
• Contemporary Nigerian drama: modern plays on present-day issues.

Why are drama and theatre important?

Drama and theatre entertain, teach and keep culture alive.

1. Cultural preservation: they keep customs, stories and languages alive.
2. Entertainment: they give enjoyment to audiences.
3. Education: they teach lessons and facts in an interesting way.
4. Social commentary: they draw attention to problems in society.
5. Emotional expression: they let people express feelings safely.
6. Community building: they bring people together.
7. Career opportunities: they offer work as actor, director, designer and more.
8. Personal development: they build confidence and character.

What skills does drama develop?

Drama develops eight main skills.

• Public speaking: confidence in speaking before others.
• Creativity: imagination in making up ideas and characters.
• Teamwork: working with others towards one goal.
• Problem-solving: finding answers when things go wrong on stage.
• Emotional intelligence: understanding your own feelings and those of others.
• Memory and concentration: learning lines and staying focused.
• Physical coordination: controlling the body in movement.
• Critical thinking: judging what a script means and how to perform it.

How is drama used in education?

Drama is used in schools to help students learn through acting and role play.

• Literacy: improves reading, speaking and listening skills.
• Other subjects: makes learning in other subjects easier to follow.
• Self-confidence: helps shy students speak up.
• Empathy: helps students understand other people’s feelings.
• Expression: encourages students to share ideas.
• Safe space: gives room to try out ideas without fear of failure.

Evaluation

1. Define drama and theatre.
2. List the elements of drama.
3. Name the four types of conflict in drama.
4. State two differences between tragedy and comedy.
5. Say what the director and the playwright each do.

Assignment

1. List five features of traditional African theatre.
2. List five skills developed through drama and explain how any two of them help a student in school.