Theater & Performance
Stagecraft, dramatic writing, acting, rehearsal, and live performance.
81 words
Download MarkdownSome words in this topic are A2–C2 — part of Pro. A1 words are always free.
Go ProA1 (4)
A2 (18) Pro
company
A2
/ˈkʌmpəni/
A business that makes or sells goods, or provides services.
M
S
sound
A2
/ˈsaʊnd/
Something that you hear; what is produced by vibrations and heard by the ear.
M
S
act
A2
/ækt/
to do something or take action
M
S
scene
A2
/siːn/
The place where something, especially an event or accident, happens.
M
S
director
A2
/dɪˈɹɛk.tɚ/
A person who is in charge of a department, company, or organization.
M
S
stage
A2
/steɪd͡ʒ/
A raised platform where actors, singers, or speakers perform in front of an audience.
M
S
character
A2
/ˈkæɹ(ə)ktɚ/
A person in a story, film, or play.
M
S
audience
A2
/ˈɔ.di.əns/
The people watching or listening to a performance, speech, or program.
M
S
role
A2
/ɹoʊl/
The part that someone or something plays in a situation or activity.
M
S
performance
A2
[pɚˈfɔɹ.məns]
A show in which someone acts, sings, dances, or plays music for an audience.
M
S
production
A2
/pɹəˈdʌkʃən/
The process of making or growing something, usually in large amounts.
M
S
drama
A2
/ˈdɹɑmə/
A play for the theater, television, radio, or film, especially a serious one.
M
S
entrance
A2
/ˈɛntrəns/
A door, gate, or opening through which you enter a place.
M
S
script
A2
/skrɪpt/
The written text of a play, film, or broadcast.
M
S
expression
A2
/əkˈspɹɛʃ.n̩/
A word or phrase that people use in a particular situation.
M
S
musical
A2
/ˈmju.zɪ.kəl/
Connected with music or its performance.
M
S
make-up
A2
/ˈmeɪkˌʌp/
Coloured substances put on the face to improve or change how you look.
M
S
scenery
A2
/ˈsiːnəɹi/
The natural features of an area, such as mountains, rivers, and forests, seen as beautiful.
M
S
B1 (19) Pro
set
B1
/sɛt/
To put or place something in a particular position.
M
S
applause
B1
/əˈplɔz/
The sound and act of clapping the hands to show approval.
M
S
aside
B1
/əˈsaɪd/
To or toward one side so as to be out of the way.
M
S
dramatic
B1
/dɹəˈmætɪk/
Sudden, large, and very noticeable.
M
S
movement
B1
/ˈmuːv.mənt/
The act of moving or changing position.
M
S
delivery
B1
/dɪˈlɪv.(ə.)ɹi/
The act of taking goods, mail, or other items to a place or person.
M
S
exit
B1
/ˈeɪɡzɪt/
A door or passage for leaving a place.
M
S
costume
B1
/ˈkɑsˌt(j)um/
A set of clothes worn to look like someone or something else, often for fun.
M
S
actress
B1
/ˈæk.tɹɪs/
a woman who performs in plays, films, or television
M
S
producer
B1
/pɹəˈdusɚ/
A person or company that makes goods or grows food to be sold.
M
S
tragedy
B1
/ˈtɹæd͡ʒɛdi/
A very sad event, especially one involving death or great loss.
M
S
comedy
B1
/ˈkɑmədi/
Entertainment, such as films or shows, that is meant to make people laugh.
M
S
tragic
B1
/ˈtɹæd͡ʒɪk/
Very sad, especially because it involves death or suffering.
M
S
curtain
B1
/ˈkɜɹt(ə)n/
A piece of cloth hung over a window to keep out light or give privacy.
M
S
gesture
B1
/ˈd͡ʒɛs.t͡ʃɚ/
A movement of the hands, head, or body to express something.
M
S
performer
B1
/pɚˈfɔɹmɚ/
A person who acts, sings, dances, or plays music for an audience.
M
S
interval
B1
/ˈɪntɚvəl/
a period of time between two events.
M
S
spectator
B1
/ˈspɛkteɪtɚ/
A person who watches an event, especially a sport or show.
M
S
intermission
B1
/ɪntɚˈmɪʃən/
a short break between the parts of a play, concert, or other performance.
M
S
B2 (12) Pro
cast
B2
/kast/
To choose an actor for a role in a film or play.
M
S
mask
B2
/mask/
A covering for the face, used for protection or to hide who you are.
M
S
opera
B2
/ˈɑp.ə.ɹə/
A dramatic play set to music in which the words are sung rather than spoken.
M
S
audition
B2
/ɑˈdɪʃən/
A short performance to show whether an actor, singer, or musician is suitable for a role.
M
S
rehearsal
B2
/ɹɪˈhɝsl̩/
A practice session to prepare for a public performance such as a play or concert.
M
S
ballet
B2
/bælˈeɪ/
A graceful, classical form of dance, often performed to tell a story with music.
M
S
lighting
B2
/ˈlaɪtɪŋ/
The lights in a place, or the way a place is lit.
M
S
cue
B2
/ˈkjuː/
A signal or event that tells someone to do something.
M
S
rehearse
B2
/ɹɪˈhɝs/
to practise a play, piece of music, speech, or other performance before presenting it publicly
M
S
playwright
B2
/ˈpleɪˌɹaɪt/
A person who writes plays for the theatre.
M
S
soliloquy
B2
/səˈlɪləkwi/
A speech in a play in which a character speaks their thoughts aloud, alone on stage.
M
S
auditorium
B2
/ˌɔdəˈtɔɹiəm/
a large room or hall where an audience gathers for performances, lectures, or meetings
M
S
C1 (9) Pro
spotlight
C1
/ˈspɑtˌlaɪt/
Public attention or the center of attention.
M
S
prop
C1
/pɹɑp/
An object used by actors on a stage or film set.
M
S
debut
C1
/deɪˈbjuː/
A person's first public performance or appearance.
M
S
farce
C1
/fɑɹs/
A situation that is absurd or ridiculous, often because it is so badly handled.
M
S
theatrical
C1
/θiˈætɹɪkəl/
Relating to the theatre or acting on a stage.
M
S
cabaret
C1
/ˌkæbəˈreɪ/
live entertainment consisting of songs, comedy, dance, or short acts presented in a restaurant, nightclub, or intimate theater
M
S
encore
C1
/ˈɑnkoɹ/
an extra or repeated performance given after the scheduled program, usually in response to applause
M
S
protagonist
C1
/pɹoʊˈtæɡ.ə.nɪst/
The main character in a story, film, or play.
M
S
stagecraft
C1
/ˈsteɪdʒˌkɹæft/
the practical skills and techniques used to create and manage a theatrical production
M
S
C2 (6) Pro
improvise
C2
/ˈɪmpɹəvaɪz/
To make something up or invent it as one goes on; to proceed guided only by imagination, intuition, and guesswork rather than by a careful plan.
M
S
choreography
C2
/ˌkɔɹiˈɑɡɹəfi/
The art of arranging the steps and movements of a dance.
M
S
melodrama
C2
/ˈmɛl.əˌdɹɑː.mə/
a sensational dramatic work with exaggerated emotions, clear moral oppositions, stock characters, and an eventful plot
M
S
ovation
C2
/oʊˈveɪʃən/
an enthusiastic public reception, especially a sustained burst of applause
M
S
pantomime
C2
/ˈpæn.təˌmaɪm/
in Britain, a comic musical stage show based on a traditional story and performed especially around Christmas
M
S
amphitheatre
C2
/ˈæm.pəˌθi.(j)ə.tɚ/
An open, outdoor theatre (which may be a theatre in the round, or have a stage with seating on only one side), especially one from the classical period of ancient Greece or Rome, or a modern venue of similar design.
M
S
C2+ (13) Pro
dialogue
C2+
/ˈdaɪəˌlɔɡ/
A conversation or other form of discourse between two or more individuals.
M
S
antagonist
C2+
/ænˈtæɡənɪst/
a person who actively opposes or is hostile to another
M
S
mime
C2+
/maɪm/
acting using gesture and movement without speech; to perform thus
M
S
diction
C2+
/ˈdɪkʃən/
the choice and use of words, or clarity of speech
M
S
monologue
C2+
/ˈmɑnəlɔɡ/
a long speech by one speaker, especially in a play or performance
M
S
premiere
C2+
/prɪˈmɪr/
the first public performance or showing of a work
M
S
acting
C2+
/ˈæktɪŋ/
the art of performing a role, or serving temporarily in a position
M
S
burlesque
C2+
/bɚˈlɛsk/
a comic, exaggerated parody; to mock by such caricature
M
S
ensemble
C2+
/ɑnˈsɑmbəl/
a group performing together, or a coordinated set of things
M
S
proscenium
C2+
/proʊˈsiniəm/
the part of a theatre stage in front of the curtain, or its framing arch
M
S
puppet
C2+
/ˈpʌpɪt/
a figure moved by strings or hands, or a person controlled by another
M
S
satire
C2+
/ˈsætaɪɚ/
the use of irony or ridicule to expose folly or vice
M
S
understudy
C2+
/ˈʌndɚˌstʌdi/
an actor who learns a role to substitute for the regular performer
M
S
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