Play

The term can be used as a noun or as a verb.

As a noun

Broadly speaking, in South African usage, the noun can either refer to a general human activity (as in childrens' play) or to a more specific item in the theatre. Here again it can have two meanings, referring either to the playtext, as written by the playwright (published or unpublished) only, or more inclusively to the staged version of the text (i.e. the theatrical event as a whole).

See also Drama, Playtext, Text, Performance, Production, Theatre, Theatrical Event, .

The term may also refer to various media, as in "stage play", "radio play", "television play".

As a verb

As a verb play may also be used in the two arenas, as in "to play a game" or to "play a recording"; or more specifically in theatre "to play a role", i.e. to interpret a role on stage.

For more information see

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Play_(theatre)

Return to

Return to South African Theatre Terminology and Thematic Entries

Return to Main Page