Difference Between Drama And Theater

The key difference between drama and theater is that drama refers to a printed text of a play while theater refers to the onstage production of the play. Another difference between these two terms is the interpretation of the play. As explained above, the interpretation of the play presented by the onstage production might be different from the interpretation obtained by reading the drama. In a drama, there is a direct interaction between the audience and the creator. However, in theater directors, actors and designers play as intermediaries. In addition, a theater is a physical entity while drama is an abstract entity.

What Is Theater?

The term ‘theater is derived from the Greek term theasthai (to behold). Theatre refers to the actual production of the play on the stage. This requires a stage, actors, background, costumes, lighting, sound effects and most importantly an audience. In fact, a space to perform, actors, and the audience are three of the most basic requirements of theater. Theater is a collective effort of the playwright, director, actors, technicians and many other people. Here, there is no direct interaction between the audience and the playwright. Theater can present another interpretation of the play. For instance, the interpretation we get from reading Shakespeare’s Macbeth might be different from the interpretation presented by a theater performance of Macbeth.

What Is Drama?

Drama is the printed text of a play, in other words, a drama refers to the script of a play. The British theater Guide defines drama as “a branch from theater based on a representation of an event written in prose or pantomime that is meant to duly enact and illustrate an event or situational conflict through acting.” The term “drama” is derived from the Greek word, ‘dran’ meaning to do or to act. As with novels or other written literary work, the people enjoying the drama have different interpretations to the context. In a drama, there is direct interaction between the author and the reader.

Script/Text, Scenario, Plan:

 This is the starting point of the theatrical performance.  The element most often considered as the domain of the playwright in theatre. The playwright’s script is the text by which theatre is created.  It can be simplistic, as in the 16^th century, with the scenarios used by the acting troupes of the Commedia dell’ arte, or it can be elaborate, such as the works of William Shakespeare.  The script, scenario, or plan is what the director uses as a blue print to build a production from.  

The Process:

This is the coordination of the creative efforts usually headed up in theatre by the director. It is the pure process by which the playwright’s work is brought to realization by the director, actors, designers, technicians, dancers, musicians, and any other collaborators that come together on the script, scenario, or plan.  This is the works in progress stage.

The Product:

This is the end result of the process of work involved. The final product that results from all of the labors coming together to complete the finished work of script, scenario, and plan, in union with all of the collaborators in the process to create the final product. This is what the audience will witness as they sit in the theatre and view the work.

The Audience:

Theatre requires an audience.  For all of the arts public is essential.  The physical presence of an audience can change a performance, inspire actors, and create expectations.  Theatre is a living breathing art form.  The presence of live actors on the stage in front of live audiences sets it apart from modern day films and television.

What is the purpose of theatre?

Theatre, whether we intended it or not, will always have something to say because the maker has chosen to use the medium to showcase their work. Theatre by definition is for an audience, the purpose is to co-exist in a space shared between maker and audience. There has to be intention that will lead to purpose.