Have you ever read a theatre-related article and been confused by all the terms that were alien to you? You’re not alone. When I first got into theatre, it was stepping into another world. Swing, diction, overture—the list seems seemingly endless and can seem a little daunting. Never fret, though; I am going to talk you through all the essential basic theatre terms everyone must know.
Acting theatre terms
AdLib: Improvisation of lines when they are forgotten, another actor misses a cue, or when the show’s flow is disrupted.
Diction: The quality in which lines are delivered, relating to enunciation, accent, inflection or intonation.
Read through: An activity, usually at the start of rehearsal, in which the cast and creatives sit down and read through the script.
Corpsing: A situation in which a cast member goes into uncontrollable laughter while on stage or during rehearsal.
Performance Features
Act 1/Act 2: The division of a show, broken up into two parts by an intermission. Most shows have this, but shorter shows, like Six the Musical, do not.
Antagonist: The villain of a show.
Protagonist: The hero of the show.
Climax: The main crisis point in a show.
Prologue: A speech/scene or introduction given by actors, providing context and additional information relevant to the storyline.
Epilogue: A speech/song/scene given to the audience at the show’s end to provide closure.
Number: Of a musical, a song.
Opening number: Of a musical, the song that is performed at the very beginning to open the musical.
Curtain Call: A section at the very end where actors give their bows to the audience.
Overture: Of a musical, a piece of music to open the show, sometimes combined with the opening number, which would come after
Entr’acte: Of a musical, a piece of music which opens Act 2.
Cast Terms
Leading actor: The actor who plays the main character.
Supporting actor: The actor who plays a secondary character to the lead, often in support or against them.
Principle: The lead roles of the show.
Understudy: Actors who are usually in an ensemble but play the lead or supporting character when they cannot perform.
Swing: Actors who learn multiple roles and play when the original principal cannot.
Ensemble: Actors who play more minor roles and will often play multiple roles. They will sing in unison, dance, etc.
Stand-by: A cast member who is off-stage but will play a principal when the original cannot.
As always, have a lovely day (and welcome to 2025!)
