What is drama?

Drama is the artistic presentation of doing. Three words are important here: art, presentation, doing.

• “Doing” requires action; this is why people who do drama are called “actors.”
• "Presentation” requires others to observe what actors are doing; these others are called “audience” (from the Latin word meaning “to hear”) and/or “spectators” (from the Latin word meaning “to see”).
• “Art” requires boundaries that frame a space where the artistic presentation may be observed; this framed space is called a “stage.”

The art of drama is called “theatre.” So for theatre to happen, you need three things: actors before an audience on a stage.

Anyplace becomes a stage when that particular space is defined by actors performing before and audience. Anyone becomes an actor what that particular person intends one’s own actions to be seen by others. Any gathering becomes an audience when that group of people direct their attention toward the same event. Any event becomes a performance when what is happening occurs in a framework of intention and expectation.