Structure
Noting down the main events in a play’s plotThe sequence of events in a narrative; a story. will help identify its structure - events will either be in chronologicalThe logical order of events in time, from beginning to middle to end. order to create a linear narrative, or they may jump around in time using flashbackA scene enacting something that happened in the past; the enactment of a character's memory of a past event.. For example, episodicA series of scenes, usually connected. Often they can be watched in any order and still make sense. plays are a feature of Brecht’s Epic theatre and tend to be created through a series of standalone scenes that link together but could be displayed in any order.
The most dramatic or exciting section of a script is known as the dramatic climaxThe moment of greatest dramatic tension in the plot.. It is important to know where this fits into the play as a whole as it will influence the acting choices made as well as the mood and atmosphere of the play. For example, building tension and suspense in a character relationship before the climactic sword fight can make the scene more impactful.
The structure of a script also influences the development of paceThe speed at which lines are delivered. and rhythmRelated to pace, referring to the pattern of sound when speaking.. Playwrights can use pauses and silences and can alter sentence lengths to help determine the pace of the piece. Ways to show this in a script include using ellipsisA series of dots (usually three) that indicate a pause or the intentional omission of a word, sentence or whole section from a piece of text. or stage directions to indicate when performers should pause to subtly communicate tension.
