Definition of Drama - Essay Example

It can be presented to an audience in many ways and forms. Most of these stories require lighting, music, costumes, scenery, sound, props, and acting. Drama is a powerful tool for relaying information as it has a direct impact on both the audience and those performing the roles. It makes us question our identities and responsibilities by giving us a picture of who we really are. From it, we get a better and deeper understanding of what life entails and what can be done to change it for the better.

This explains why many see drama as a mirror through which they can see a reflection of all the good and bad virtues they possess. Drama broadens our understanding of life by giving us different perspectives on it. This means that we get different options for handling various situations. Stories can even be used to take us back into the past and re-look some of the most defining moments in our lives. It evokes different emotions based on the message being portrayed. A sad theme would make us feel gloomy, while a funny theme would make us laugh.

Regardless, every story, regardless of the mood created, is always meant to pass a message about something that is of importance to the actors, audiences, or both parties. We come out of the theatre, having a better understanding of the different issues addressed through the plot. There are many forms of play. These include Mime, Masked and Puppet Play, and Radio Drama. Each form has specific elements, such as theme, that makes it unique from the rest. Before explaining the elements, it crucial that we create a plat that will help us understand how and when to use the different forms of play.

Imagine your teacher asks the students to organize themselves in groups. Each of the children is to take up a character that suits them. They are also given a script that they are to use to perform a play before a class audience. The play is timed, which means that every group is to act within a well-defined duration. In such a situation, the only thing that is left out is to know the form of story to use. Mime only relies on body language and facial expression. Children are expected to pass a message to their classmates without speaking them out.

They can only be helped by the different elements needed for the specific role given to each actor. Masked play refers to a type of performance where actors use masks as the main props in a play. Unlike Mime, children involved in a Masked play have to use their voices to relay the message to the rest of the class. Interestingly, masks are great since they elicit confidence. A masked actor feels more confident to act before a large audience since no one can see the fear and anxiety exhibited from the inside as they act.

Most shy children would love to participate in such a play that allows them to hide their actions. Puppet play refers to a type of story that relies on puppets. It allows children to say things that they would never be in a position to them if they did not relay them through puppets. The beauty of a puppet play is that puppets are always thought to take an identity that is different from that of the person producing the words. This explains the high levels of confidence among puppeteers. Finally, a radio drama refers to a concept that involves script reading.

It is not strange to have some sound effects in the background to make the plot and play even more entertaining.  Different elements make up a story. First is the plot, which is the action within a play. A plot directs the action in a play from the beginning to the end through well-formatted sequences. Every plot requires a theme within which the story is told. A theme refers to the main idea behind the play. There are moments when it is obvious while there are other moments when the audience has to be keen enough to understand the theme in any play.

Characters are also very crucial as they are the people who take up the different roles in a plot. Characters could even be animals depending on the storyline. A story also uses dialogues and music to pass a clear message and make the performance as entertaining or educative as possible. Scriptwriters need to understand the genre of any story written. Genre is a term used to refer to the category or type of play. It could be categorized as a comedy, romance, or anything that appeals to a specific audience.

An audience refers to everyone who watches the play. It could be made up of the young, old, or mixture of both, depending on the genre of the play. You need to factor in all these elements when creating and organizing a performance if it is to have a professional edge. It is worth it.