Script Terminology
The features and structures of a written play.
Stage directions, dialogue, soliloquy, aside, monologue, prologue, epilogue, scene, act, character list, dramatis personae Cambridge IGCSE Drama 0411
🎭 Cambridge IGCSE Drama Reference Sheet 2026
Essential vocabulary and frameworks for Cambridge IGCSE Drama students — theatre conventions, acting techniques, drama practitioners, genre conventions, devising methods, and scripted analysis.
Theatre Terminology Acting Techniques Practitioners & Approaches Devising & Scripted Work
Our reference sheets are free to download — save this one as PDF for offline revision.
Aligned with the latest 2026 syllabus and board specifications. This sheet is prepared to match your exam board’s official specifications for the 2026 exam series.
All the Core IGCSE Drama Concepts in One Reference Sheet
Cambridge IGCSE Drama rewards precise theatre vocabulary, awareness of practitioner approaches, and confident analysis from actor, director, and designer perspectives. This reference sheet gives you the terminology, frameworks, and analytical tools to perform, devise, and write about drama with assurance.
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Theatre conventions and terminology — script, staging, lighting, sound, costume
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Acting techniques — vocal, physical, characterisation, ensemble work
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Drama practitioners — Stanislavski, Brecht, Artaud, Frantic Assembly, Punchdrunk
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Devising methods, genre conventions, and scripted text analysis
Theatre Conventions & Terminology
Use precise, technical vocabulary when analysing scripts, performances, or designing work.
Staging Configurations
How the audience–actor relationship is arranged in space.
Proscenium arch, in-the-round, traverse, thrust, end-on, promenade, immersive (site-specific) Stage Areas
Standard terminology used by directors and designers.
Upstage, downstage, stage left, stage right, centre stage, wings, apron, backstage Stage left and stage right are always from the actor's perspective, facing the audience.
Set & Properties
Physical elements that build the world of the play.
Flats, cyclorama (cyc), drop, scrim/gauze, rostra, properties (props — personal vs set), revolve, truck Lighting
Lighting shapes mood, focus, and time of day.
Gels (colour), gobos (pattern), fresnel, profile spot, flood, par can, blackout, fade, cross-fade, snap, wash, special Sound
Sound design supports atmosphere, location, and emotion.
Diegetic (heard by characters) vs non-diegetic (heard only by audience), soundscape, underscore, sound cues, live vs recorded, foley Costume
Costume signals character, period, and meaning.
Symbolism (colour, texture), period vs contemporary, hair and make-up, silhouette, costume changes Acting Techniques
The actor's toolkit — vocal, physical, characterisation, and ensemble skills.
Vocal Skills
How the voice communicates meaning.
Pitch, pace, pause, projection, tone, articulation, accent, volume, emphasis, intonation Physical Skills
How the body communicates character and meaning.
Posture, gesture, gait, facial expression, proxemics (use of space), levels, eye contact, stillness, mime Characterisation
Building a believable, layered character.
Backstory, intentions, motivation, given circumstances, objectives, super-objective, status, relationships Ensemble Work
Working as a unified group on stage.
Cooperation, listening, shared focus, choral movement, unison, transitions, supporting other performers Strong ensemble work shows generosity — supporting your fellow performers' moments rather than upstaging them.
Drama Practitioners & Approaches
Reference major practitioners to justify your performance and design choices.
Stanislavski — Naturalism
Russian practitioner; foundation of psychological realism.
Given circumstances, the magic 'if', emotional memory, objectives and super-objective, units and beats, the fourth wall Brecht — Epic Theatre
German practitioner; political theatre that makes audiences think.
Verfremdungseffekt (alienation/distancing), gestus, episodic structure, breaking the fourth wall, placards, direct address, multi-rolling Artaud — Theatre of Cruelty
French practitioner; visceral, ritualistic, multi-sensory theatre.
Theatre of Cruelty, multi-sensory experience, ritual, total theatre, rejection of text as primary, assault on the senses Berkoff & Physical Theatre
Steven Berkoff; total physical commitment.
Physical theatre, mime, exaggeration, stylised movement, ensemble shapes Frantic Assembly
British company; choreographed physical theatre.
Building blocks, chair duets, hymns, lifts, push hands — physical sequences as storytelling Punchdrunk — Immersive
British company; site-specific, audience-led immersive theatre.
Immersive, site-specific, masked audience, one-on-ones, non-linear journeys Always justify a practitioner choice — explain WHY their approach suits the moment, not just that you used it.
Genre Conventions
Recognise how genre shapes form, content, and audience response.
Tragedy
Aristotelian conventions still underpin most tragic drama.
Hamartia (tragic flaw), peripeteia (reversal), anagnorisis (recognition), catharsis, hubris, tragic hero Comedy
Many subtypes — be precise.
Slapstick, satire, farce, comedy of manners, comedy of errors, romantic comedy, dark comedy Physical Theatre
Story told primarily through the body.
Movement-led, minimal text, ensemble shapes, stylised gesture, mime Melodrama
Heightened emotion and stock characters.
Hero, heroine, villain, comic servant, exaggerated gesture, music underscoring emotion, asides Absurdism
Meaningless universe, fragmented logic.
Theatre of the Absurd (Beckett, Ionesco) — circular structure, disjointed dialogue, existential themes Verbatim & Documentary Theatre
Real words, real events.
Verbatim — actors reproduce real interview transcripts | Documentary theatre — real events dramatised, often political Devising Methods
A repeatable process for creating original work from a stimulus.
The Devising Process
Standard sequence for creating an original piece.
Stimulus → research → improvisation → structuring → refining → performance → evaluation Rehearsal Techniques
Tools to develop character, narrative, and meaning.
Hot-seating, role-on-the-wall, status games, freeze-frames (still images/tableaux), thought-tracking, conscience alley, improvisation Structuring Devices
Shape your material into a coherent piece.
Linear vs non-linear, flashback, episodic, framing device, motif, climax, anti-climax, transitions Examiners reward purposeful structural choices — be ready to justify why your piece is non-linear, episodic, etc.
Scripted Analysis & Set Text Awareness
Read scripts from multiple perspectives — actor, director, and designer.
Actor's Perspective
Focus on character intentions and delivery.
Objectives, motivation, subtext, vocal and physical choices, relationships, emotional journey Director's Perspective
Focus on staging, meaning, and overall vision.
Concept, staging configuration, blocking, pace, dramatic tension, focus, transitions, intended audience response Designer's Perspective
Focus on the visual and aural world of the play.
Set, costume, lighting, sound — symbolic choices, period, atmosphere, supporting the director's concept Coursework Components
What you are assessed on.
Devised piece (group, original) + scripted extract performance (from a published play) + written paper analysing performance work Always link your written analysis to specific moments — quote stage directions or lines and explain your choices precisely.
How to Use This Reference Sheet
Boost your Cambridge exam confidence with these proven study strategies from our tutoring experts.
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Keep a Drama Journal
Record rehearsal decisions, practitioner influences, and intentions for each moment. The journal feeds directly into written coursework and exam responses.
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Speak the Language of Theatre
Use precise vocabulary — proxemics, gestus, cross-fade — rather than vague terms. Examiners reward technical accuracy.
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Justify Every Choice
Why this practitioner? Why this staging? Why this lighting state? A justified choice is always stronger than a random one.
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Watch Live Theatre
See as much theatre as you can — live or recorded. Reviewing performances sharpens your analytical vocabulary and your sense of stagecraft.
Reference Sheet FAQ
Quick answers about this free PDF and how to use it for exam revision and active recall.
Is the Cambridge IGCSE Drama Reference Sheet 2026 free to download as a PDF?
Yes. This Tutopiya formula sheet is free to use and you can download it as a PDF from this page for offline revision. There is no payment or account required for the PDF download.
What Drama topics and equations does this formula sheet cover?
This page groups key Drama formulas in one place for revision. Master Cambridge IGCSE Drama (0411) with this 2026 reference sheet. Covers theatre conventions, acting techniques, drama practitioners, genre conventions, devising methods, and scripted analysis. Always cross-check with your official syllabus and past papers for your exam session.
Can I use this instead of the official exam formula booklet in the exam?
No. In the exam you must follow only what your exam board allows in the hall—usually the official formula booklet or data sheet where provided. This page is a revision and teaching aid, not a replacement for board-issued materials.
Who is this formula sheet for (Secondary)?
It is written for students preparing for assessments at Secondary in Drama, including classroom revision, homework support, and independent study. Teachers and tutors can also share it as a quick reference.
How should I revise with this formula sheet?
Work through past paper questions, quote the correct formula before substituting values, and check units and notation every time. Pair this sheet with timed practice and mark schemes so you see how examiners expect working to be set out.
Where can I get more help with Drama revision?
Explore Tutopiya’s study tools, past paper finder, and revision checklists linked from our tools hub, or book a trial lesson with a subject specialist for personalised support alongside this formula reference.
Need Help with Cambridge IGCSE Drama?
Develop devised pieces, prepare scripted extracts, and refine written coursework with an experienced Cambridge IGCSE Drama tutor. We work on practitioner technique, performance skills, and exam-board language.
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This reference sheet aligns with Cambridge Assessment International Education IGCSE Drama (0411) syllabus content.
Always justify performance and design choices with reference to character intention, practitioner influence, or audience effect.