Drama and Theatre Arts (and Film)

Items

• lighting plot

  The digitally stored lighting cues.
• linear narrative

  A storytelling structure that follows chronological order, common in contemporary theatre and film.
• loading bay

  Access into the theatre for loading scenery and other equipment.
• low-angle shot

  Shot from below the subject, often used to convey domination, power, or intimidation.
• LX

  Short for electrics, the section of the theatre responsible for electrical equipment and stage lighting.
• Marxism in theatre

  The application of class struggle and materialism to critique capitalist society through performance.
• masking

  1) Neutral material or designed scenery that defines the performance space and conceals the technical areas from the view of the audience. 2) Masking can also refer to the general concept of something being concealed from the view of the audience, e.g., an actor can be masked by a set piece, another actor, or even the actor themselves by not opening their body to the audience. This is usually undesirable.
• masking tape

  Tape with a paper-like texture, usually used to mark out where scenery / props should be placed.
• match cut

  An editing transition that visually or thematically links two similar shots in film.
• matinee

  An afternoon performance of a show.
• medium close-up (MCU)

  Frames the subject from the chest or shoulders up. Emphasises facial expressions while retaining some body language.
• medium long shot (MLS) / medium wide shot (MWS)

  Shows the full body of the subject within the frame, while still including significant background detail. Balances character and setting.
• medium shot

  A camera shot showing a person from the waist up (cut in half lengthwise) / commonly used in dialogue scenes (film).
• Metamodernism

  A theory oscillating between Modernism and Post-modernism, emphasising inclusivity and empathy. It can also be described as the swinging-back-and- forth of hope and cynicism, enthusiasm and apathy, and sincerity and irony.
• method acting

  A technique where actors deeply immerse themselves in their characters’ experiences (Stanislavski-influenced).
• mime

  Silent performance using body language and gestures to tell a story.
• mise-en-scène

  The overall visual composition onstage and in the framing – scenery, props, lighting, costume, and movement.
• Modernism

  It encompasses universal truths (grand narratives), such as science, religion, and collectivism. Stems from around the late 19th to the first half of the 20th century, particularly in the 1930s in art and music.
• monologue

  A long speech delivered by one character, often revealing thoughts or advancing the plot.
• montage

  A sequence of shots edited together to condense time or summarise information / a film editing technique juxtaposing shots to create new meaning. Also used in theatre for rapid scene changes.
• motif

  A recurring theme, symbol, or idea that reinforces the central message of a work.
• motivation

  The reasons behind a character’s behaviour or choices.
• movement

  Physical actions or gestures used by an actor to express character, emotion, or intention.
• moving head

  A type of stage light that can move automatically and change colour, direction, and patterns.
• Mr Sands

  A code used for announcing that a fire has broken out. Appropriate evacuation protocol will then follow.