Theatre and drama share a rich history, dating back to the Romans, Greeks and the Far East. Greek tragedies focused on mythology and dealt with the search for the meaning of life. The Romans carried on much of the Greek tradition in drama and plays. Church history included drama, especially related to the life of Christ. During the Renaissance period, several known playwrights came to the forefront, but William Shakespeare towers over them all. His name is perhaps the most closely associated with plays of all time. Modern theatre credits much of its foundation to his groundbreaking work.
As one of the key components of theatre, language flows through narratives, poetry, song or dance. At times however, gestures, through the use of pantomime, form the basis of a drama and use symbolism. Impersonation and disguises provide a second critical element in theatre. The audience or someone to watch the performance form the final element.
Drama and theatre help people understand others in different cultures and throughout history. Beyond entertainment, you can look at society, values, interactions and relationships. Dramatics teaches people to work with others and improves communication skills. Involvement in drama also boosts self-confidence and helps others overcome a fear of speaking in public. Finally, drama offers a different perspective to life than what you might normally consider.
Plays, dating as far back as Aristotle in 325 B.C., form one of the foundational venues of drama. A monologue presents one actor who portrays one or more characters. Dialogue involves at least two people interacting. Mime uses physical movement without words and usually with no music. Actors can wear costumes and makeup. Dance coordinates movement with music and can involve more than one person. Dramatic readings emphasize vocal expression. The reader does not need to memorize the script. Skits are short plays, usually comedic.