Features of a Playscript

What is a play?

A play is a form of drama or theatrical performance that is written to be performed by actors in front of an audience. It is a type of story told through dialogue, action and interaction between characters, and it is performed live on stage.

What is a playscript?

A playscript is the written version of a play. It contains all the information needed to perform the play. It helps the actors, director and crew to bring the story to life on stage.

Features of a playscript:

• Scenes and acts - A play is divided into acts, and then scenes within each act. Each scene represents a specific moment in the story, often with a change in location or time.

• Character and prop list - Each scene needs a list of any characters and props (any object used by actors during a play to help tell the story or make the scene more realistic) that will be needed to perform it. There may be brief descriptions of the characters to help the actors understand who they are playing.

• Scene/setting description - This section gives information about where the scene is taking place, how it should look and where characters are at
  the beginning.

• Character names - Each time a character speaks, their name is clearly labelled on the left of the script followed by a colon (:), and then the dialogue.

• Dialogue - This feature shows exactly what each character is to say when acting on stage. Each new speaker goes on a new line. Inverted commas do not need to be used in this genre.

• Stage directions - These are instructions that tell the actors what to do, how to move, or how to deliver their lines. They are written in italics and/or brackets to distinguish them from dialogue. Stage directions help create the atmosphere, set the scene, and guide actors in their movements or expressions.