Drama and Character
RADIO PLAY/DRAMA
The English word ‘drama’ derives from the Greek word ‘dran’ meaning ‘to do’. Thus a drama is a story performed or ‘done’ by people on stage, radio, film, TV, on the street. A drama involves a chain of events and describes a web of relationships involving one or more persons. It could be fiction or non-fiction.
The main Components/ELEMENTS of a RADIO drama:
I. Plot_____________________________________________________
The chain of events or actions in which the characters are involved and during which the dramatic conflict starts, develops, comes to a climax, and is resolved is the plot.
The aims of plot development are:
Create an emotional experience
Tell a people story (people are interested in other people)
Work within the culture
Convey ideas rather than words
Show rather then tell
Use humour
Drive home the message
Easy way to develop a plot are: * Write the main story in synopsis form * Structure the Beginning, Middle, and End * Flesh it out * Create character profiles
II. Dramatic conflict_______________________________________
Dramatic conflict refers to the unusual often unexpected turns that occur in all human activities and that create uncertainty, tension, suspense, questions or surprise in the audience. Every event, circumstance or relationship in life is subject to uncertainty. The twists, turns and uncertainties constitute the dramatic conflict that create a drama’s appeal. A story without dramatic appeal is static, boring, unattractive. * Person (or persons) against fate * Person (or persons) against other persons * Person (or persons) against themselves * Dramatic conflict could be tragic, comic or emotional for any one event
E.g., A couple has prepared for weeks for an anniversary party. One hour before it starts, there is an electricity blackout.
Tragic: Wife falls down the stairs and is injured badly
Comic: In darkness husband wears mismatched shoes and rubs toothpaste
The English word ‘drama’ derives from the Greek word ‘dran’ meaning ‘to do’. Thus a drama is a story performed or ‘done’ by people on stage, radio, film, TV, on the street. A drama involves a chain of events and describes a web of relationships involving one or more persons. It could be fiction or non-fiction.
The main Components/ELEMENTS of a RADIO drama:
I. Plot_____________________________________________________
The chain of events or actions in which the characters are involved and during which the dramatic conflict starts, develops, comes to a climax, and is resolved is the plot.
The aims of plot development are:
Create an emotional experience
Tell a people story (people are interested in other people)
Work within the culture
Convey ideas rather than words
Show rather then tell
Use humour
Drive home the message
Easy way to develop a plot are: * Write the main story in synopsis form * Structure the Beginning, Middle, and End * Flesh it out * Create character profiles
II. Dramatic conflict_______________________________________
Dramatic conflict refers to the unusual often unexpected turns that occur in all human activities and that create uncertainty, tension, suspense, questions or surprise in the audience. Every event, circumstance or relationship in life is subject to uncertainty. The twists, turns and uncertainties constitute the dramatic conflict that create a drama’s appeal. A story without dramatic appeal is static, boring, unattractive. * Person (or persons) against fate * Person (or persons) against other persons * Person (or persons) against themselves * Dramatic conflict could be tragic, comic or emotional for any one event
E.g., A couple has prepared for weeks for an anniversary party. One hour before it starts, there is an electricity blackout.
Tragic: Wife falls down the stairs and is injured badly
Comic: In darkness husband wears mismatched shoes and rubs toothpaste