Elements of drama

The 5-part dramatic structure corresponds to a play’s 5 acts

1. Exposition; (introduction) which establishes tone, setting, main characters, main conflict . It also fills in events previous to play
2. Rising action: There are a series of complications for the protagonist (main character) smetmes flowing from the main conflict
3. Crisis or Climax : it is te turning point in story, a moment of choice for the protagonist which forces of conflict come together
4. Falling action: The results of protagonist’s decision which maintains suspense.
5. Resolution or Denouement: the conclusion of play with the unraveling of plot . It may include characters’ deaths

Dramatic technique
Pun: play on words involving words with more than one meaning or words with similar sounds Soliloquy: Speech of moderate to long length spoken by one actor alone on stage (or not heard by other actors)
Aside: Direct address by actor to audience –Not supposed to be overheard by other characters

Poetic technique
Blank verse: unrhymed iambic pentameter: 5 units of rhythm per line with primary iambic ( U / ) rhythm, example:“Shal Ì compàre Thée to a sùmmer’s dày”

Globe

Elizabethan Theatre

Building
Theatre buildings were made up of 3 stories. Levels 1 & 2, had Backstage: dressing and storage areas while Level 3, Upper Stage: could represent balcony, walls of a castle, bridge of a ship. The inside of the building resembled courtyard of an inn. The Proscenium or stage was a large platform without a curtain or a stage setting with 2 ornate pillars which supported a canopy. The stage roof (underpart of canopy) was called “the heavens” it was elaborately painted to depict the sun, moon, stars, planets. There were trap doors for entrances and exits of ghosts and an area under stage called Hell. There were also 2 large doors at back so that the actors made entrances and exits in full view of audience. There was also an inner stage: a recess with a balcony area above. The floor was full of ash mixed with hazelnut shells from snacks the audience ate during performances. The plays were held in the afternoon since the theatre building had no roof, there was no artificial lighting and no scenery.

Acting companies
They developed from the medieval trade guilds and were composed of only boys and men. Young boys performed female roles

Audience
Elizabethan theatres could accommodate 2000-3000 people from all walks of life. Well-to-do spectators sat in covered galleries around stage while commoners, that is most of the audience stood in the yard around the platform stage – they were called “groundlings” and paid 1 penny for the show.