Theatre Creating the Dramatic Script Creating the Text A theatre production is a collaboration Playwrights role is to create centrality Script is the starting point of a play Things the writer has think of while writing the script 1 Selecting the specific subject of the play o History o Biography o Someone s personal life o Imaginary Story 2 Focus and Emphasis o Must decide whom and what to focus on 3 Dramatic Purpose o Entertain o Probe Human condition o Provide and escape 4 Structures in Drama o How scenes are put together o High Point of the action o A play unfolds through time 5 Essentials of Dramatic Structure o Plot o Action o Conflict o Opposed forces One is stronger than the other o Balance of forces They are both equal Exposition They tell you a part of the story they don t show you on screen Conflict Character VS Another Character Character VS Self Character VS Forces of Nature Character VS Society Character VS Supernatural Technology Structure of a play Opening Scene o Starts Action o Sets tone and style o Sets time and place o Sets action into motion o Character presented in problem Obstacles and Complications Crisis and Climaxes o Result of obstacles and complications Two Basic Structures Climactic plot Intensive 1 2 3 4 5 6 Plot begins late in the story Covers a short space of time Few solid extended scenes Occurs in restricted location Characters are limited Plot is linear In order Episodic Plot Extensive 1 2 3 4 5 6 Plot begins early Covers a longer period of time Has short fragmented scenes Not in one location Many characters Several threads of action Types of Dramatic Characters Extraordinary Representative or quintessential Sock Characters Characters with a Dominant Trait Minor Narrator or Chorus Nonhuman