Act (drama) facts for kids

An act is a big part of a play, movie, opera, or musical. It's like a major chapter in a story. An act usually has several smaller parts called scenes. The word "act" can also describe main sections in other shows, like TV programs or music concerts.

Understanding Acts in Theatre

An act helps organize a play's story. It often shows a main part of the plot, like when the action starts, reaches its peak, or gets resolved.

A scene is a smaller part of an act. It usually happens in one place at one time. Scenes often change when the curtain closes, the lights go out, or actors leave the stage.

The parts that build a play's story and divide it into acts include:

• Exposition: This is the beginning. It gives you basic information about the characters and setting.
• Inciting Incident: This is the event that kicks off all the action in the story.
• Complications: These are challenges or problems that change the story's direction.
• Crisis: This is a big turning point where the main question of the play is often answered.
• Resolution: This is the ending, where everything comes together. The situation is usually solved.

Sometimes, a play might not fully resolve. It could end with a cliffhanger, leaving you wondering what happens next. This often means a sequel is coming!

A Brief History of Acts

Ancient Roman theatre was one of the first to divide plays into acts. These acts were separated by short breaks. Later, plays were often divided into acts and then into scenes. In early theatre, a scene changed whenever actors entered or left. Later, a scene change meant a new location.

Today, many plays have simpler structures. Some writers don't even use clear act divisions. The end of an act often marks a moment when characters make a big decision. This decision then greatly affects the rest of the story.

Many modern plays, movies, and musicals use a three-act structure. Most musicals often have two acts. The break between them is usually an intermission.

Different Types of Acts

Plays can have different numbers of acts. Here are some common types:

One-Act Plays

A one-act play is a short drama that has only one act. It tells a complete story without any breaks or act divisions. These plays are often found in collections with other short plays.

Three-Act Plays

In a three-act play, each act often has a different feeling or purpose.

• Act One: This act introduces the story's main conflict. You meet the main characters (the protagonist) and learn about the setting. The inciting incident usually happens around the middle of this act. This event starts the whole story.
• Act Two: The main character faces many problems and obstacles. They might seem far from reaching their goal. This is often the most challenging part of the story for them.
• Act Three: This act includes the climax, which is the most exciting part. It also has the resolution, where the story wraps up. Things usually return to a calm state.

Five-Act Plays

Shakespeare's plays generally use a five-act structure.

Before the 18th century, most plays had five acts. The plays of William Shakespeare often follow this five-act structure. Each act has a specific role in the story:

• Act One: The beginning, where you learn about the characters and the problem starts.
• Act Two: The first major turning point, with more problems appearing.
• Act Three: The action builds up to the climax, the story's peak.
• Act Four: The story starts to calm down after the climax.
• Act Five: The ending, where everything is resolved. For sad plays (tragedies), there's often a disaster before the final resolution.

A similar five-part structure is also used in traditional Japanese Noh drama.

Acts in Other Media

• Television: In TV shows, each act can be separated by commercials.
• Film: In movies, many scenes are grouped together to create the story. The three-act structure is very common in films.

See also

In Spanish: Acto (artes escénicas) para niños