Page layout
The layout of a play’s script is very different to proseThe language most associated with the writing in novels. It has a natural flow of speech. in a novel.
- character names are used to indicate who is speaking
- italics or brackets are used to describe stage directions
As well as telling the story, scripts provide lots of important practical information, such as how many performers are required in the cast. They can help the performer know how to deliver a line or where to move in the performance space. Scripts also provide the designers with information about what different aspects of the play - eg costumes, set or lighting - should look like in order to communicate meaning to an audience. Stage directions may indicate crucial practical features that need to be taken into consideration, such as ensuring that there is enough performance space for a fight or battle scene.