大象传媒

Drama elementsDramatic conventions

The elements of drama are the ingredients that give the work its shape and character. As well as characters, plot and action, consider which dramatic forms and dramatic coventions to use.

Part of DramaScripts as a stimulus

Dramatic conventions

A convention is a technique employed regularly in the drama so that the audience come to attach specific meaning to it. When a technique is used repeatedly in a drama the audience recognise its significance. They buy into it as an established way of telling the story.

There are a range of dramatic conventions that you can explore to make your drama interesting and engage the audience:

  • slow motion
  • soliloquy (a solo speech by an actor that gives an insight into what they are thinking)
  • adding narration
  • use of an 鈥榓side鈥 (when a character directly addresses the audience to comment within a scene)
  • breaking into song (as in Musical theatre)
  • using a chorus to comment upon the action
  • splitting the stage so that different spaces represent different locations
  • using placards (signs) to give additional information to the audience
  • split role or multi-role
  • using music to underscore the drama