1) What does dramatic
structure mean?
- A play starts with a
situation (beginning). A conflict arises that
changes the situation (middle). The resolution
determines whether the conflict is resolved or not
(end)
- The plot is the
story of a play.
- When setting up your
situation, you may want to start with answering the
following questions: Where are we? Who is there?
What are they doing? When is it? Why are they there?
How did they get there?
2) What is a character
breakdown?
- A character
breakdown should include only basic information
about the characters’ gender, age, or any other
important defining qualities that aid the plot. Keep
it simple.
- Please keep cast
sizes small. No playwright can bring to life but so
many characters in a one-act play. Make sure each
character has a real purpose for being on stage.
3) What is character
development and why is it important?
- A character’s
development means that at least one of the
characters changes, learns or loses something as the
situation changes.
- The audience needs
someone to root for, or to care about. Try to make
your characters as complex, as three-dimensional and
as real as real people!
4) What is theatrical
action?
- A simple rule of
thumb is “show, don’t tell”. What happens in your
play? What changes the situation at hand?
- If a character
doesn’t say it or do it, we, as an audience, don’t
know it. The plot of your play lies in action and
dialogue, not narration, unless specifically a part
of your dramatic structure.
5) What is a scene?
- A one-act play may
consist of many scenes. A scene is continuous action
in a single setting. Please refrain from jumping
back and forth from setting to setting. A play is
meant for the stage, not the screen. For example, a
20 page play should NOT have 20 different scenes.
6) Where do I start?
- Anywhere! A
newspaper article, a real-life event, an overheard
conversation, history, myth, fantasy, anything can
spark a play. Take inspiration from life and what
you observe around you.
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