Features of Drama: Theme, Stage, and Costume – JSS1 Literature-in-English Lesson Note (Third Term)

Theme, stage and costume are three features of drama. Theme is the main idea or message of a play. The stage is the space where actors perform. Costume is the special clothing actors wear to show who characters are, when they live and what they are like.

Subject: Literature in English. Class: JSS 1. Duration: 40 minutes.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

1. Explain what theme means in drama.
2. Identify common themes in plays.
3. Describe the stage and its importance.
4. Explain the role of costumes in drama.
5. Explain how theme, stage and costume work together to create effective drama.

Previous knowledge

Students know that drama is literature meant to be performed. They understand basic drama terms like character, dialogue and plot. They have learned about different types of drama.

Teaching aids

• Pictures of different stage types
• Sample costumes or pictures of theatrical costumes
• Chart showing common drama themes
• Props and costume pieces (if available)
• Video clips of stage performances (if possible)

Introduction (4 minutes)

The teacher asks students:

• When you watch a play or movie, what is the story really about?
• Where do actors perform plays?
• What do actors wear when they perform?

The teacher shows pictures of actors on stage in different costumes and asks: “What do these pictures tell you about the play?”

The teacher explains that today the class will learn about three important features that make drama work: the theme (what the play is about), the stage (where it happens) and costumes (what actors wear).

What is theme in drama? (13 minutes)

Theme is the main idea or message in a play. It is what the play is really about beyond just the story. When you finish watching a play, the theme is the lesson or truth you take away.

Think of theme as the heart of the play: it is the important idea the playwright wants you to understand.

How do you find the theme?

To find a play’s theme, ask yourself:

• What is this play really teaching me?
• What message does the writer want me to understand?
• What truth about life does this play show?
• What do the characters learn?

What is the difference between theme and subject?

Subject is what the play talks about (love, war, family). Theme is what the play says about that subject.

What are the common themes in drama?

1. Good vs. evil. Many plays show the struggle between right and wrong. Good characters fight against evil characters. Usually, good wins in the end, teaching us that goodness is stronger than evil.
   Example: An honest man refuses to join corrupt friends. He suffers at first but eventually succeeds while the corrupt friends are punished.
2. Love and sacrifice. Plays often show that true love means putting others first. Characters give up things they want for people they love.
   Example: A mother works many jobs to send her children to school, sacrificing her own comfort for their future.
3. Tradition vs. change. Many Nigerian plays deal with the conflict between old ways and new ways. This shows the challenge of keeping culture while accepting helpful modern changes.
   Example: Young people want to choose their own marriage partners, but elders insist on arranged marriages according to tradition.
4. Greed and its consequences. Plays teach that wanting too much leads to problems. Greedy characters lose everything trying to get more.
   Example: A man cheats others to become rich, but loses his family, friends and respect. He ends up lonely and unhappy.
5. Family loyalty. Many plays show the importance of family bonds. Characters face choices between family duty and personal desires.
   Example: A daughter must choose between her career in the city and staying home to care for aging parents.
6. Justice and injustice. Plays often deal with fairness and unfairness in society. They show what happens when people are treated badly and how justice can be achieved.
   Example: A poor man is falsely accused of stealing. The play shows his struggle to prove his innocence.
7. Pride and downfall. Like in tragedy, many plays show how excessive pride destroys people. Characters who think they are better than others eventually suffer.
   Example: A wealthy man looks down on poor people. When he loses his wealth, no one helps him because of how he treated them.
8. Courage and bravery. Plays celebrate characters who stand up for what is right, even when it is dangerous or difficult.
   Example: A young girl speaks the truth to powerful people who are doing wrong, even though she could be punished.
9. Betrayal and forgiveness. Stories show how betrayal hurts and whether people can forgive those who hurt them.
   Example: A friend betrays another friend’s trust but later seeks forgiveness. The play asks whether forgiveness is possible.
10. The power of education. Many Nigerian plays emphasise how education changes lives and communities.
    Example: An educated person returns to the village and helps solve problems using their knowledge.

How is theme shown in drama?

• Through characters: The way characters behave and change shows the theme. What they learn teaches us the lesson.
• Through dialogue: Characters say things that express the theme. Sometimes they directly state the lesson.
• Through plot: What happens to characters demonstrates the theme. If greed is the theme, greedy characters will suffer.
• Through conflict: The main struggle in the play usually relates to the theme. How the conflict is resolved teaches the lesson.
• Through the ending: How the play ends often makes the theme clear. Who succeeds? Who fails? What is the final message?

Why is theme important?

1. Gives meaning: Theme makes a play more than just entertainment. It teaches something valuable.
2. Connects to life: Themes help us understand our own lives and society.
3. Unifies the play: Theme holds everything together. All parts of the play work to express the theme.
4. Makes plays memorable: We remember plays that teach important lessons.
5. Creates discussion: Themes make us think and talk about important issues.

Class activity: finding a theme

The teacher tells a short story: “A boy lies to his parents about where he goes after school. He secretly plays football instead of attending extra lessons. When exam results come, he fails. His football friends pass because they attended their lessons. He realises honesty and education are important.”

Students identify the theme. (Honesty is important, or education should be taken seriously.)

What is the stage? (13 minutes)

The stage is the platform or area where actors perform. It is the performance space that the audience watches. The stage is like the “world” where the play happens.

Without a stage, drama cannot be performed properly. Even if actors perform in the street, that space becomes their stage.

What are the parts of the stage?

1. Performance area: The main space where actors stand, move and perform.
2. Wings: The sides of the stage, hidden from the audience. Actors wait here before entering and exit through the wings.
3. Backstage: The area behind the stage where actors prepare, change costumes and wait for their scenes.
4. Curtains: Large cloths that close to hide the stage and open to reveal it. Curtains signal the start and end of acts.
5. Front stage (downstage): The part of the stage closest to the audience.
6. Upstage: The part of the stage farthest from the audience.
7. Centre stage: The middle of the stage, the most important position.

What are the stage positions?

When directors tell actors where to stand, they use these terms:

Why these names? In old theatres, stages sloped down toward the audience (so everyone could see). The front was literally “down” and the back was “up”. We still use these names today.

What are the types of stages?

1. Proscenium stage

This is the most common type. The audience sits on one side looking at the stage through a “frame” called the proscenium arch. It is like watching through a big window.

Advantages:

• Good for scenery and backdrops
• Audience has a clear view
• Easy to hide backstage areas
• Can use curtains effectively

2. Thrust stage

The stage pushes out into the audience. People sit on three sides of the stage.

Advantages:

• Audience feels closer to the action
• More intimate and involving
• Actors can interact more with the audience

3. Arena stage (theatre in the round)

The audience sits all around the stage in a circle. Actors perform in the middle.

Advantages:

• Very close to actors
• No bad seats
• Feels more real and immediate

Disadvantages:

• Hard to use scenery
• Some of the audience always sees actors’ backs

4. Flexible or black box stage

A plain room where the stage and seating can be arranged differently for each performance.

Advantages:

• Very flexible
• Can be changed for different plays
• Often used for experimental drama

5. Open-air or outdoor stage

Performances happen outside with no roof. Traditional African drama often used this type.

Advantages:

• Natural setting
• Can accommodate large audiences
• No need for an expensive building

Disadvantages:

• Weather can be a problem
• Hard to control lighting

What is the stage set (scenery)?

The stage set is everything on stage that creates the environment:

• Painted backdrops showing location
• Furniture (chairs, tables, beds)
• Trees, rocks or other environmental features
• Buildings or room structures
• Doors and windows

Purpose of the set:

• Shows where the scene takes place
• Creates the right atmosphere
• Helps the audience understand time and place
• Makes the performance look realistic

Example: For a village scene, the set might have a thatched hut, some stools, a cooking pot and a backdrop painted with palm trees.

What does stage lighting do?

Lights on stage do more than just help us see. Their functions include:

• Show time of day (bright for morning, dim for night)
• Create mood (red for danger, blue for sadness)
• Focus attention on important areas
• Show changes in location or time

Example: Lights dim slowly to show evening coming. A spotlight focuses on one character to show they are thinking alone.

What are stage props?

Props (short for “properties”) are objects actors use during performance:

• Letters, books, newspapers
• Weapons (swords, guns, but fake ones)
• Food and drinks
• Tools (hammer, hoe, broom)
• Personal items (bags, phones, jewellery)

Importance of props:

• Make actions realistic
• Help tell the story
• Give actors something to interact with
• Show character traits (what someone carries tells us about them)

Why is the stage important?

1. Creates the world: The stage brings the play’s setting to life.
2. Focuses attention: Stage design directs where the audience looks.
3. Supports the story: Good staging helps tell the story clearly.
4. Creates atmosphere: Stage elements create the right mood.
5. Professional quality: Good use of the stage makes the performance better.

Class activity: sketching a stage

Students sketch a simple stage layout for a play set in a classroom. They label where actors would stand, where the door is and where the teacher’s desk should be.

What is costume? (10 minutes)

Costume is the special clothing actors wear during a performance. Costumes are carefully chosen to show who characters are, when they live and what they are like.

Costume is different from everyday clothes because it is designed specifically for the play.

Why are costumes important?

1. Costumes show who the character is

Costumes immediately tell us about a character.

Social status:

• Rich people: Fine clothes, jewellery, expensive fabrics
• Poor people: Simple, worn clothes, patched garments
• Royalty: Crowns, robes, special symbols

Occupation:

• Doctor: White coat, stethoscope
• Farmer: Work clothes, boots, hat
• Teacher: Professional but simple clothing
• Priest: Religious garments

Age:

• Children: Smaller clothes, playful styles
• Elders: Traditional, dignified clothing
• Young adults: Fashionable, energetic styles

Personality:

• Serious character: Dark, formal clothes
• Happy character: Bright, colourful clothes
• Mysterious character: Dark, unusual clothing

2. Costumes show the time period

Costumes tell us when the play takes place.

Traditional or pre-colonial:

• Wrappers, traditional beads
• Native fabrics
• Traditional headgear
• Bare feet or local sandals

Colonial period:

• Mix of Western and traditional
• Some characters in suits, others in native dress
• Shows cultural conflict

Modern times:

• Contemporary clothing
• Jeans, shirts, dresses
• Modern shoes and accessories

3. Costumes show cultural background

Costumes reveal which culture characters belong to.

Yoruba culture:

• Agbada, buba
• Gele (head tie)
• Aso oke fabric

Igbo culture:

• George wrapper
• Red cap for men
• Traditional beads

Hausa culture:

• Flowing robes
• Turbans
• Babban riga

Example: In a play about cultural conflict, one character wears full traditional dress while another wears a Western suit, showing their different values.

4. Costumes create visual interest

Colourful, varied costumes make the play exciting to watch. Boring, similar costumes make plays dull.

5. Costumes help actors feel the character

When actors wear the right costume, it helps them behave like their character. A person wearing a king’s crown automatically stands taller and more proudly.

What are the elements of costume?

1. Clothing
   • Shirts, trousers, skirts, dresses
   • Traditional robes and wrappers
   • Uniforms
   • Special ceremonial dress
2. Footwear
   • Shoes, sandals, boots
   • Bare feet (for some traditional or poor characters)
   • Slippers
3. Headwear
   • Hats, caps, crowns
   • Head ties (gele)
   • Turbans
   • Helmets
4. Accessories
   • Jewellery (rings, necklaces, bracelets)
   • Belts
   • Scarves
   • Bags
5. Make-up
   • Face paint
   • Traditional marks and designs
   • Age make-up (making young actors look old)
   • Special effects (scars, bruises)

What should a costume designer consider?

Character requirements: Who is this person? What would they wear?

Colour: Different colours create different feelings.

• Red: passion, anger, danger
• White: purity, peace
• Black: mourning, evil, formality
• Green: nature, life, jealousy
• Yellow or gold: royalty, wealth

Fabric:

• Rich characters: Silk, velvet, expensive materials
• Poor characters: Cotton, rough fabrics
• Traditional characters: Native weavings

Comfort: Actors must move easily. Costumes should not be too tight, too hot or dangerous.

Visibility: The audience must see faces and important actions. Costumes should not hide actors.

What are examples of effective costume use?

Example 1: Class difference. In a play about rich and poor, the rich man wears a fine three-piece suit with a gold watch and shiny shoes. The poor man wears a torn shirt, patched trousers and worn slippers. The contrast shows inequality.

Example 2: Character change. A character starts the play in bright, happy colours. After tragedy strikes, they appear in dark, dull clothes. The costume change shows their emotional transformation.

Example 3: Traditional vs. modern. A father wears full traditional attire. His daughter wears jeans and a t-shirt. This shows generational conflict without any words.

How does costume differ in different types of drama?

Tragedy:

• Often formal, dignified
• Rich fabrics for noble characters
• May become torn or dirty as the character falls

Comedy:

• Brighter, more colourful
• May be exaggerated or silly
• Mismatched clothes for humour
• Quick costume changes for disguises

Historical drama:

• Accurate to the time period
• Requires research
• Shows authentic cultural dress

What are simple costume solutions for schools?

Not all schools can afford elaborate costumes. Simple solutions include:

1. Use everyday clothes creatively: Regular clothes can work if chosen carefully.
2. Add key pieces: One special item (crown, cap, scarf) can transform a character.
3. Use fabric: Simple cloth can become many things: a wrapper, a cape, a head tie.
4. Make props: Cardboard crowns, paper jewellery, painted fabric.
5. Borrow and adapt: Ask parents and community members for appropriate items.

How do theme, stage and costume work together?

Theme, stage and costume are connected. Take a play about greed:

• Theme: “Greed destroys happiness”
• Stage: The set shows a progression from a simple, happy home to a cluttered, luxurious but empty mansion.
• Costume: The character starts in simple, clean clothes (happy). As they become greedier, costumes become more expensive but less comfortable. They wear heavy gold jewellery that weighs them down.

Everything works together to show the theme.

Class activity: costume for a village chief

The teacher describes a character: “A proud village chief in a traditional African setting.”

Students discuss:

• What costume would this character wear?
• What colours?
• What accessories?
• How would the costume show he is proud?

Evaluation (2 minutes)

1. What is theme in drama?
2. Give three common themes in plays.
3. What is the stage? Name three parts of the stage.
4. Why are costumes important in drama?
5. How can costumes show a character’s social status?
6. Name three types of stages.
7. What is the difference between subject and theme?
8. How do stage, costume and theme work together?

Assignment

1. Theme identification: Think of any story, play or movie you know. Write:
   1. The title
   2. What it is about (subject)
   3. What it teaches (theme in one sentence)
   4. How you know this is the theme
2. Stage design: Imagine a play set in your school cafeteria. Draw a simple stage layout showing:
   1. Where actors would perform
   2. Where tables and chairs would be
   3. Where the serving area is
   4. Where actors would enter and exit

   Label all parts clearly.

3. Costume description: Choose three different characters (for example, a king, a farmer and a student). For each character, describe:
   1. What clothes they would wear
   2. What colours you would use
   3. What accessories they would have
   4. Why these costume choices fit the character
4. Theme essay: Write one page about why theme is important in drama. Include:
   1. A definition of theme
   2. Three reasons why plays need themes
   3. One example of a theme you find meaningful
5. Comparison: Create a table comparing costumes for the same character in three different time periods (traditional times, colonial period, modern day). Show how the costume would change.
6. Creative task: If you were to stage a play about “the importance of honesty”, describe:
   1. What the stage would look like
   2. What costumes the honest and dishonest characters would wear
   3. How the stage and costumes would support the theme