OCR GCSE Drama: drama techniques and terminology - techniques, devices, styles, staging and the elements of drama

What this area covers

This area is the underpinning knowledge of OCR GCSE Drama: the techniques, devices, styles, staging and elements that the whole course depends on. It is not a separate component but the vocabulary and understanding that every component draws on, devising, performing texts, and above all the written paper, where accurate terminology applied to specific moments is what earns marks. The area covers explorative techniques, dramatic devices, genres and styles, staging configurations, and the elements and mediums of drama.

This guide ties together the five dot-point pages for the area.

Explorative and drama techniques

Explorative techniques (still image, thought-tracking, hot-seating, role play, improvisation, forum theatre) are practical methods for developing drama in rehearsal. The skill is knowing what each produces and combining them (improvise to generate, then still image to fix the key beats), not just naming them.

Dramatic conventions and devices

Devices (narration, direct address, monologue, flashback, cross-cutting, marking the moment, multi-role, symbolism) are choices in the finished piece that shape the audience's experience. Each has a specific effect, and they also structure a piece, so the marks come from the effect and the structural role, not the label.

Genres and styles of drama

A style (naturalism, non-naturalism and physical theatre, epic and political theatre, comedy, tragedy) is a set of conventions that drives coherent choices. The marks come from knowing the conventions and showing how style shapes performance and design, matched to the intention.

Staging configurations

The configurations (proscenium arch, end on, thrust, in the round, traverse) each create a different actor-audience relationship and sightlines, and shape meaning and design. The marks come from knowing the relationship, effect and challenges of each, not just the name.

The elements and mediums of drama

The elements (tension, focus, contrast, climax, rhythm) are the qualities a moment can have; the mediums (space, levels, movement, voice, silence) are the means used to create them. Understanding how the mediums build the elements underpins every performer and director choice.

How to revise this area

1. Pair every term with its purpose or effect. Never name a technique, device, style, configuration or element without what it does.
2. Distinguish techniques from devices. Techniques develop drama in rehearsal; devices appear in the finished piece.
3. Let style drive choices. Know the conventions and how they shape performance and design.
4. Know the staging relationships. Each configuration's actor-audience relationship, sightlines and challenges.
5. Build moments from elements and mediums. Use the mediums to create the elements deliberately.

The dot points in this area

Each links to a focused answer page: explorative and drama techniques, dramatic conventions and devices, genres and styles of drama, staging configurations and the elements and mediums of drama.