The way in which the plot is conveyed in a performance, sometimes to a particular philosophy of performance, or to an historic period.
Theatrical convention
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Definition
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Related performance style
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Burle |
Comic banter or verbal game playing; ‘spin’
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Commedia del’Arte, stand-up comedy, clowning
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Burlesque |
Any ludicrous take-off or debasing caricature,
To burlesque …(a person) to create a mocking representation
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Greek &, Roman Comedy, cabaret, farce, satire, Absurd Theatre
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Caricature |
Exaggeration of character that is often ludicrous or grotesque, using voice, gesture and movement
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Melodrama, Roman Comedy, Commedia dell’Arte, Story-telling, cartoons, Asian styles,
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Character transformation
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The actor plays more than one role, shifting from one to another without going off stage. Transformation is made using expressive skills, characterisation, use of props and costume.
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Story-telling, Documentary Theatre, Realism.
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Psycho/social characterisation
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Actor portrays an in-depth psychologically rounded character
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Naturalism & Realism
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Chorus
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Use of a group in performance, to comment on the plot or action of a play, usually using heightened use of language, direct address, stylized and choreographed movement and tableau.
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Greek Drama, Medieval Drama, Epic Theatre,
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Continuous time sequence
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Dramatic structure follows a continuous time pattern, possibly using real time
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Naturalism, Realism
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Disjointed time sequence
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Dramatic structure that does not unfold chronologically. Past, present and future events are performed in a non-sequential order.
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Story-telling, Epic Theatre, modern Realism
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Direct address
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The actor speaks directly to the audience, either as their character or as the actor stepping out of character.
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Stand-up comedy,
Epic Theatre (Brecht), circus, Realism, Greek Theatre
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Dramatic metaphor
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Heightened symbolic use of word, object or gesture beyond the literal meaning.
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,Greek theatre, physical theatre, Symbolist Theatre, Total Theatre, Epic .
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Audience Endowment
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The audience is constructed by the actor as a particular group of people, usually through direct address. E.g. audience as citizens of Vienna in Measure for Measure
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Elizabethan Theatre, Greek Theatre, Epic Theatre, story-telling, Stand-up comedy, cabaret, clowning, realism
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Documentary
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Use of reported or researched fact to convey a particular set of views or ideas.
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Cabaret, Epic Theatre, Realism.
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Exaggerated Movement
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Action that is deliberately overstated for a dramatic purpose, often for purposes of ridicule.
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Clowning, Commedia Dell’ Arte, Greek Theatre
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Fourth Wall
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Often called ‘slice of life’, a style dependent on the life-like representation of every day life. No manipulation of time or space. Audience not recognized.
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Naturalism and Realism
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Heightened use of language
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Poetic or exaggerated use of language. Includes choice of words whose syntax, alliteration and rhyming patterns lead to heightened delivery.
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Greek theatre, Epic Theatre various non-naturalistic
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Heightened use of movement
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Ritualized, dance-like movement sequences either individually or in a group, often using repitition, symbolic gesture,
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Physical Theatre, Greek Theatre, Medieval Theatre ,Opera, Kabuki , Noh Drama, Asian performance styles, realism.
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Implied character
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Actor creates a sense of another person being present or addressed
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Monologues, realism,
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Implied space
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Actor creates a sense of a particular environment through voice and action
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Monologues, Realism, Elizabethan Theatre, Story-telling, Epic theatre, Non-Naturalistic styles
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Lazzo/ Lazzi (pl.)
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A short comic routine based in a single ludicrous idea, often using sight gags, or slapstick.
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Commedia Dell’ Arte, other comedy.
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Lyrical
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Use of verse, heightened song or movement, including the use of poetic imagery
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Greek Drama, Musicals. Opera. Asian performance styles, Elizabethan Theatre
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Mask
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Use of false noses, half masks, or full masks, for purposes of caricature, stereo-type, abstraction, or ready identification with known characters.
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Clowning, Greek drama, Commedia dell’ Arte, Noh Drama, Kabuki, Other Asian performance styles
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Mime
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Unvoiced physical performance implying object and space
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Realism and non-naturalistic
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Montage
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Juxtaposition of dramatic images or vignettes often presented in rapid succession uses: introduction of ideas summary of characters/events/actions.
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Story-telling, visual theatre, epic theatre, other non-naturalistic styles.
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Narration
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Direct address where plot elements are conveyed
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Story-telling, Epic Theatre, Stand-up, Realism
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Puppetry
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Use of objects or puppets as characters
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Black Theatre, Visual Theatre, Shadow Puppetry, Bunraku, Object Theatre Asian styles
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Satire
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Use of sarcasm, irony and ridicule in denouncing , exposing or deriding vice , folly and abuse.
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Cabaret, stand-up comedy, Farce, Clowning, Sit. Coms,
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Slapstick
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Comedy technique using physical humour, often stage violence
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Clowning, Cabaret
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Stillness and Silence
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Absence of sound or movement to enhance dramatic effect
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All styles
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Soliloquy
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Monologue addressed to self to argue an issue. Usually has a thesis/antithesis or argument structure
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Elizabethan Theatre, especially Shakespeare
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Song
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Use of song to break up or comment upon a narrative or plot
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Opera, Musicals, Epic Theatre, Music Hall, Cabaret
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Stereo-type
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Characterisation that uses highly recognisable simplistic or cliched character elements for dramatic purpose.
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Melodrama, Commedia Dell’ Arte, Agit Prop., Sketch comedy. Cartoons, Cabaret
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Transformation of Place
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The actor creates more than one place or setting without the use of scenery. This may be achieved using transformation of props or through use of expressive skills.
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Story-telling
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Transformation of object
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A prop is used to represent more than one object
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Story-telling and design styles which require minimal set.
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Use of symbol
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Minimalist focus on objects to represent ideas
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Realism, & Non-naturalistic styles, Ritual Theatre,
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