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Writing Drama

Writing Drama. The Basics. Title Page and Characters. The first page of a drama should include the title and playwright. A dramatis personae or character list at the beginning of a play is also customary. Act and Scene.

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Writing Drama

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  1. Writing Drama The Basics

  2. Title Page and Characters The first page of a drama should include the title and playwright. Adramatis personae or character list at the beginning of a play is also customary.

  3. Act and Scene An act in a play generally refers to a grouping of major pieces of action. Each individual part of an act is called a scene. Scenes typically occur when there is a change in place or time. There is no set number of scenes per act.

  4. Classical Drama: 5 Act play • Act 1 -- Exposition. We meet the main characters, and the setting is established. The conflict is introduced in a basic way. The basic dramatic tensionsare explored. • Act 2 -- Complications. The action becomes more complicated as the conflict develops. Tension mounts, and momentum towards the climax builds. • Act 3 -- Climax of the Action. The conflict reaches its high point and plays out. • Act 4 -- Falling Action. The consequences of the climax play out. • Act 5 -- Resolution. The conflict is resolved.

  5. Classical Drama: Tragedy vs. Comedy • Act 4 -- Falling Action. The consequences of the climax play out. Tragedy: It looks as if everything may turn out alright for the protagonist(s). Comedy: Everything looks grim. There is no way out. • Act 5 -- Resolution. The conflict is resolved. Tragedy: Catastrophe. The protagonist’s downfall occurs. The result is death. Comedy: Everything turns out for the best. Victory. Celebration.

  6. 3 Act play • Act 1 -- Exposition. We meet the characters, and the setting is established. Attention is on the seed of the conflict. • Act 2 -- Rising Action. All attention is now turned toward the conflict. Characters struggle to resolve the issue. • Act 3 -- Climax and Resolution. The conflict reaches its height and is resolved.

  7. 2 Act play • Act 1 -- Rising Action. All attention is focused on the conflict. Characters struggle to resolve the issue. Many times, the play starts mid-conflict. • Act 2 -- Climax and Resolution. The conflict reaches its height and is resolved.

  8. 1 Act play In a single act, a conflict plays out, builds to a climax, and is resolved. This may happen over the course of a handful of scenes, or in a single scene/setting. Many times, one act plays actually follow the same dramatic course as multi-act plays. The parts of the drama are simply condensed.

  9. Setting The reader/audience needs a description of the setting before each act and/or scene. ACT ONE Scene One (A small apartment. Immaculately clean except for the naked male body on the floor. The body is on its back with legs crossed and arms out to its side. There is a mirror in one hand and a single black feather in the other.)

  10. Characters, stage directions, and Dialogue (Lights up. GRIFF on a knee by the body. ELIAS standing next to him. Uniformed officers stand by the door, keeping reporters away from the crime scene.) GRIFF: (shaking his head) I never seen anything like this, detective. There’s no evidence of foul play. There isn’t even a hint of someone else’s DNA in the entire apartment. It’s as if no one but the victim has ever been in here before. If a housefly farts, I have technology to detect it. How is this even possible? (ELIAS removes his hat and rubs the back of his neck. He looks up at the ceiling.) ELIAS: (whispering) Not again. (pause) Please. Not again.

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