Drama and Theatre Arts (and Film)

Items

• rehearsal

  A practice session where performers and crew prepare the production under the director’s guidance.
• rehearsal report

  A written note, usually by the stage manager, summarising what happened in a rehearsal and what’s needed next / sent to the entire cast, crew, and production teams.
• representation

  How people, ideas, and cultures are portrayed and understood in performance and film – what stories get told and by whom.
• resolution

  The final part of a play, or the ending of a story, where all conflicts are resolved.
• reverse shot

  A film shot showing the opposite view of a previous shot, often used in dialogue exchanges.
• rider

  (Technical rider) Information sent ahead to a venue detailing lighting, sound, staging, and dressing room requirements.
• Ritual Theatre

  Performances drawing from ceremonial traditions for communal or spiritual purposes.
• rostrum (plural: rostra)

  A portable platform, to give a person prominence / usually in the form of a collapsible hinged framework (called the gate) and a separate top (called the lid).
• run

  A sequence of performances of the same production at a certain locality / A rehearsal of a scene, an act, or the complete play without interruption by the director, e.g., the stage manager might inform the cast that they will “run” Act 2. (A walk-through of a scene would be done slowly, to make changes or take notes.)
• scene

  A unit of action within a play or film, often in one location or time.
• scenography

  The integrated design of scenery, lighting, costumes, and sound which creates the performance world.
• screenplay

  The written script of a film, including dialogue, character actions, and camera directions.
• script

  The written text of a play, including dialogue and stage directions.
• Semiotics (in theatre / performance)

  The study of signs and symbols in performance – how meaning is created through visual and auditory elements, like costumes, gestures, lighting, and staging.
• set / scenery

  The physical constructions onstage that represent locations and environments.
• set design

  The creation of the physical environment on stage to represent the world of the play.
• shot

  A continuous piece of filming between two cuts.
• show report

  A written report by stage management noting problems, running times, show staff, and audience numbers for the previous days’ performances / it is circulated to the technical and management teams.
• showreel

  A short video (of no longer than 3 minutes) that contains examples of a person’s work to showcase and highlight the breadth of their experience in a particular field.
• sight lines

  A series of lines drawn on a plan or section to indicate the extent of the stage visible from the extreme seating positions in the auditorium / also often marked in the wings using masking tape to guide actors and crew.
• Site-specific Theatre

  Performances created for and performed in non- traditional locations tied to the work’s theme.
• Social Realism

  An art movement that aims to depict working- class life and societal issues, advocating for change.
• soliloquy

  A monologue where a character speaks their thoughts aloud, alone on stage.
• sound design

  The creation and manipulation of audio elements to support the narrative and atmosphere.
• soundtrack

  All audio elements in a film, including dialogue, music, and sound effects.