Cennarium Backstage - Brasil Autumn 2016 | Page 24
Theatre Glossary: Learning the Right Theatre Words By Fay Al-Janabi
Here are the basic and not-so-basic theater words every professional knows. Add these to your vocabulary and start enjoying more "dramatic" conversations! today!
A Ad lib Acting or performing without having prepared one’s words or actions beforehand. Usually done in cases where an actor forgets his or her lines or something goes wrong during a production.
Against type Playing the role of a character that’s different from the usual roles performed by an actor or actress. The opposite of typecasting.
Am dram A production performed by non-professionals; short for amateur dramatics.
Amateur theatre Theatre that is performed by amateurs or non-professionals.
Antagonist A character in a play or performance who opposes or stands in the way of the protagonist.
Anti-naturalism A style of performance in which it is intended for the audience to be aware of the play as acting rather than reality. Apron The stage area between the curtain and orchestra pit.
Aside A technique where an actor performs a line to him or herself that is intended to be heard by the audience but not by other characters onstage.
Avenue staging A type of staging where the audience sits on either side of the stage.
B Beat A short pause or the length of time it takes for a character to perform an objective in an opera or play.
Boards Slang for 'stage.'
Break a leg A wish of good luck said to actors before a performance.
Brechtian acting A style of performance in which the audience is intentionally alienated from the characters so as to keep them aware that they are watching a play and not reality.
C Call times When individual actors are expected to be at the theatre, prior to make up and dressing. Call times are different for each actor so as to avoid crowding of dressing rooms and make-up artists.
Cans Slang for headsets used to communicate during theatre performance. Cast The actors in a performance.
Casting The pre-production process in which actors are chosen for each individual character in a performance.