Page 43 - Year 8 Spring 2026 Knowledge Organiser
P. 43
Performing Arts: Vocabulary: 1 of 3
Terminology and Techniques Physical Skills Vocal Skills
Text/ Script The written drama piece/script. Facial Using the face to express that Dialogue The spoken script on stage.
Tableux A ‘frozen picture’ that tells a story. Expressions characters feelings and Direct Address When an actor speaks directly to the
Costume and props are needed, emotions. audience, e.g. in pantomime.
and physicality used to show Gesture An expressive movement of the Communal A variation on chorus work where a
emotion. body, or something that is said or Voice group of performers speaks with ‘one
Technical Technical equipment and systems done to show a feeling, i.e. a voice’.
for example sound, lighting and wave. Intonation Variation of spoken pitch that is not used
computer generated effects. Body Posture The position of the body to to distinguish words, but the attitudes
Protagonist The main character in a piece of communicate a character, i.e. and emotions of the speaker. For
drama. standing with a straight back, to example questions, feelings,
Thought An exercise that allows the inner show you have higher status than statements.
Tracking thoughts of a character or role to be another character. Language The level of formality with which you
heard out loud. The participant is Body Language The way in which our bodies Register speak. Different people and situations
asked to say their characters communicate our character’s call for different registers. For example
thoughts and feelings at specific attitudes. Using your body to talking to a teacher and your friends.
points during their acting. show emotions or hidden Monologue One person speaking, either delivering a
Plot The storyline of a piece of drama. feelings. speech or thoughts and feelings to the
Scene A sequence of continuous action in Movement The process of moving the body audience.
a play. on stage to express feelings, or Vocal Pace The speed in which an actor delivers
Rehearse/ A practice or trial performance of a emotions. their lines.
Rehearsal play. Audience The spectators who watch the Vocal Pause Pausing lines to create dramatic effect
Flashback Enacting a moment from a performance. such as tension.
character’s remembered past, this Off-Stage The area ‘back stage’ where the Vocal Tone The way that you speak, using
can help gain an understanding of audience can’t see the actors ‘intonation’ to add feelings, emotions or
the character and provide a ‘back Character The person/persona an actor sub-text.
story’. wishes to convey. Vocal Using the voice so that all the audience
Entrances & Where a character enters and exits Status The level of society a character is Projection can hear.
Exits their scene. in. Sound Any music, sound effects or other sound
Level(s) How the actors sit, kneel or stand Improvisation To perform quickly in response to used on stage created by electronics,
on stage, to show status. something, without previous actor’s bodies or instruments. Sound is
Multi-role When an actor plays more than one planning. used to create atmosphere, or mood.
role. Pitch The ‘highness’ or ‘lowness’ in the tone of
the voice.
