Dramatisation

Dramatisation, or dramatization in American spelling, is the process of turning a narrative, whether fictional or factual, into a dramatic form suitable for performance. It involves translating prose into dialogue, shaping scenes, creating characters, and staging directions that convey mood, pace, and conflict. The aim is to present the story through actors' performances rather than through narration alone.

In theatre, a dramatisation may be a stage adaptation of a novel or biography prepared by a playwright, sometimes with direct involvement from producers and directors. In film and television, dramatised works often adapt novels, plays, or biographical material into screenplays, or they present docudramas that re-enact historical events with actors while incorporating commentary or narration. There is also the practice of using dramatised reenactments in documentaries.

Dramatisation raises questions of fidelity and interpretation. While it can bring audiences closer to characters and events, it may alter facts or emphasize narrative tension over factual precision. Ethical considerations include fair representation of real people and events, sensitivity to source material, and transparency about dramatization.

The term is widely used in British English as dramatisation and in American English as dramatization. It is one of several forms of adaptation, distinct from pure translation of a source text and from non-dramatic narration, but overlapping with screenwriting, playwriting, and documentary practice.