How to write a theater play
Plays are character-driven works of writing. Since the play will involve a lot of dialogue, your characters must be as believable as possible. In great plays, the tension that builds up between the characters is expressed outwardly. Here are some tips on how to write a theater play.
1) When you write a theater play: stay on one place
A theater stage is a closed space. You can’t multiply the sets ad infinitum. Besides the fact that it confuses the spectators, it obviously poses technical problems. One cannot, after all, spend more time changing the sets than performing the play. Setting your character in a tense situation is a great way to create drama. By combining the character with the situation, you can also develop the character and imagine the story that led the character to be in that situation.
2) Master the lingo
The text must contain many indications (place, time, scenery, …) that help the actor and the director a lot, they are called stage directions. A play divides into several parts, these are the acts. These acts can include one or more scenes.
3) When you write a theater play: be clear
A good play must have a definite structure that allows for the coherent realization of the work. A linear structure in a theatrical work is composed of an introduction, a trigger and a conclusion, so that the thread of the play must be consistent from beginning to end.
4) Know your characters
Characters are the most important elements in writing a play. Their presentation should not be neglected, because it is through their description that we recognize their theatrical character. The personalities of the actors will be determined by their intonations, gestures, costumes, games and indications in the stage directions. Before writing a play, and to help you better visualize your characters, make an index card that includes the characteristics of the protagonists: characters, language register, links with the other actors of the story.
5) Know where to finish
You need to know how to resolve the conflict in your story, and if it’s an open ending, you’ll need to think about the audience’s possible interpretations. You always have to focus your speech on what you want to convey. This idea applies also for children‘s plays.
When you write a theater play, an important step is rereading. Once you are done writing a first draft, start proofreading to continue refining your text.