Formatting of stage plays

Plays essentially consist of the characters‘ dialog and stage directions, which are necessary for understanding the plot. In addition, technical instructions regarding sound, lighting, or music can be integrated into the script to support the production.

Basic Structure of a Play

• Character Text:
  • Stage dialog is designed to be spoken and performed live on stage. The dialogs often have their own rhythm and musicality, which interact with lighting, movement, and staging to function on stage.
• Stage Directions:
  • Contain important information for understanding the plot and dialog.
  • Are usually placed in parentheses or italics.
• Scene Divisions:
  • Plays are divided into scenes or entrances.
  • The numbering of the scenes can either be placed after (Scene 1) or before (Scene 1).

Technical Instructions

In addition to the classic dialogs and stage directions, other technical or staging elements may be relevant for the staging or performance of a play. These can optionally be included in the script and formatted accordingly:

• SOUND: Noises or sound effects that are recorded or created live
• MUSIC: A piece of music that plays during the scene
• LIGHT: Lighting effects to create atmosphere, scene changes, or emotional impact
• STAGE SETTING: Instructions for changing or arranging the set design
• VIDEO: Projections or visual recordings
• NARRATOR: a narrator’s voice or a narrator visible on stage.

These additional elements make it possible to integrate staging notes and stage directions directly into the script.

Practical Application

Extending formatting with technical directions makes stage play scripts usable not only for writers, but also for directors and production teams.
Especially for school and amateur theater performances, where the writing process and staging often lie in one hand, it is helpful to include not only the dialog but also information about music, lighting, or sound effects directly in the script.

Furthermore, there are plays – not only children’s theater – in which a narrator plays a key role.

Formatting Conventions for Stage Plays

• Speaking characters are terminated with a colon.
• The character text begins on the same line indented to the right.
• Stage directions are placed in brackets or italics to to distinguish them from dialog.
• Scene numbering can be placed at the front (Scene 1) or at the back (Scene 1).
• Technical effects such as sound, music, lighting, set changes, or video are marked separately:
  • The name of the element (SOUND, MUSIC, LIGHT, STAGE DECOR, VIDEO, NARRATOR) is left-aligned in capital letters and ends with a colon.
  • The description of the respective effect follows, indented to the right.
  • These elements, like stage directions, are placed in parentheses or italics set.

Note: The integration of technical instructions goes beyond the classic layout of traditional stage scripts, but is particularly advantageous for modern productions or multimedia plays.