stage-play
/ˈsteɪdʒ pleɪ/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A stage-play is a play written to be performed live on a stage. It is usually different from a film or television drama.
- We watched a stage-play at the local theatre.
- The writer adapted the novel into a stage-play.
- This stage-play has only three actors.
Adinary Nuance
A stage-play is more specific than play. It clearly means a live theatre performance, not a film, TV show, or radio drama. Writers use it when they want to stress the stage setting, not just the story form.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- vở kịch
- Spanish
- obra de teatro
- Chinese
- 舞台剧
- Japanese
- 舞台劇
- Korean
- 무대극
Etymology
Stage-play appeared in English in the early modern period as a compound of stage and play. It was used to mean a play meant for live performance, especially in a theatre.
Common phrases
a stage-play adaptationwrite a stage-playperform a stage-playwatch a stage-play
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is stage-play the same as play?
- Almost. Stage-play is more specific and stresses live theatre performance.
- Is stage-play common in everyday English?
- It is understandable, but play is more common in daily speech.
- Can I use stage-play in academic writing?
- Yes, especially when discussing theatre or dramatic literature.
- What is the difference between stage-play and film?
- A stage-play is performed live on stage, while a film is recorded for the screen.