Theatre Glossary
Whether you're stepping on stage for the first time or picking up a script to read, here's a guide to the terms you'll encounter in the world of theatre.
11 terms in History & Traditions
Agon
A formal contest or debate between two characters in ancient Greek drama, where opposing arguments are presented in structured, often symmetrical speeches. The agon was a set piece in Greek comedy (Aristophanes used it extensively) and reflects the Greek cultural love of public debate and rhetoric. The concept has influenced all subsequent dramatic conflict—every argument scene in modern drama is, in some sense, an agon.
History & TraditionsAlarum
A stage direction found in Renaissance plays, particularly Shakespeare, indicating sounds of battle, trumpet calls, or general commotion offstage. "Alarum" (an archaic form of "alarm") signals that fighting or conflict is happening beyond the audience's view. Related stage directions include "excursions" (brief skirmishes crossing the stage) and "alarums and excursions" (extended battle sequences). These directions give modern directors creative freedom in staging.
History & TraditionsAlienation Effect
A theatrical technique developed by Bertolt Brecht (also called Verfremdungseffekt or V-effect) designed to prevent the audience from losing themselves in the story. Methods include direct address to the audience, visible stage machinery, projected titles, and actors stepping out of character. The goal is to encourage critical thinking rather than passive emotional engagement.
History & TraditionsCommedia dell'Arte
A form of improvised Italian comedy that flourished from the 16th to 18th centuries. Performers used stock characters (like Harlequin, Colombina, and Pantalone), masks, physical comedy, and loose plot outlines (scenarios) rather than fixed scripts. Commedia dell'arte had an enormous influence on pantomime, vaudeville, and physical theatre traditions worldwide.
History & TraditionsKabuki
A classical Japanese theatre form dating from the early 17th century, known for its elaborate makeup (kumadori), stylised movement, spectacular costumes, and dramatic stage effects including revolving stages and trapdoors. All roles, including female characters, are traditionally performed by male actors. Kabuki was designated a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2005.
History & TraditionsMarionette
A puppet controlled from above by strings or wires attached to a control bar (called a "perch" or "control"). Marionettes can create remarkably lifelike movement and have been used in theatrical performance for centuries across many cultures. Contemporary companies like the Salzburg Marionette Theatre perform full operas with marionettes. The craft requires exceptional dexterity and years of training.
History & TraditionsMasque
An elaborate form of courtly entertainment popular in 16th and 17th-century England, combining poetry, music, dance, and spectacular scenic effects. Masques were performed by and for the aristocracy, often featuring allegorical plots praising the monarch. Ben Jonson wrote many notable masques, with stage designs by Inigo Jones. The form's emphasis on spectacle and design influenced the development of scenic theatre.
History & TraditionsMorality Play
A medieval dramatic form (15th–16th century) in which allegorical characters—with names like Everyman, Good Deeds, Death, and Vice—enact a moral lesson, typically about the human soul's journey toward salvation. The most famous example, Everyman, depicts its protagonist summoning friends, family, and worldly goods only to find that none will accompany him to face God. Morality plays bridged the gap between religious liturgical drama and secular theatre.
History & TraditionsMystery Play
A medieval dramatic form presenting biblical stories—from Creation to the Last Judgement—performed by trade guilds (or "mysteries") in towns across Europe, particularly England. Mystery plays were staged on wagons or outdoor platforms during religious festivals like Corpus Christi. The York, Chester, and Wakefield cycles survive as major literary and theatrical texts. They represent some of the earliest popular theatre in the English language.
History & TraditionsNoh Theatre
The oldest surviving form of Japanese theatre, dating from the 14th century. Noh combines music, dance, and drama in a highly stylised, slow-paced performance featuring masked actors, a chorus, and a small instrumental ensemble. Themes draw from Japanese history, legend, and spirituality. Noh has influenced Western artists including W.B. Yeats and Samuel Beckett.
History & TraditionsOnnagata
Male actors in Japanese Kabuki theatre who specialise in performing female roles, having trained from childhood in the specific movement, vocal quality, and aesthetic of feminine portrayal. Onnagata developed after women were banned from performing in Kabuki in 1629. The tradition continues today, and the art of onnagata performance is highly respected—the best practitioners are considered to express an idealised femininity that transcends gender.
History & Traditions