Monodramas

A monodrama is a dramatic work performed entirely by a single actor. It centers on one protagonist and a continuous narrative or sequence of scenes delivered by that performer. While related to the theatrical monologue, a monodrama is typically a complete piece designed for one performer, with other characters represented through voice, memory, or minimal theatrical devices and with the design of sets, lighting, and sound supporting the solo performance.

Form and technique: Monodramas typically feature a simple physical setting and a focus on the actor’s voice, timing, and embodiment. The material is often autobiographical or confessional, but can also be fictional or documentary in nature. Performers may switch between multiple voices or personas, or address the audience directly, using pacing, repetition, and staging to sustain dramatic tension across the duration.

History and context: Solo performance traditions exist across cultures, but the term monodrama gained prominence in the 19th and 20th centuries to describe works written or produced for a single performer. In modern theater, the form has flourished in fringe festivals and intimate venues, as well as in touring productions and, in some cases, in film and television where one actor carries the entire narrative.

Notable examples: Spalding Gray’s Swimming to Cambodia (1981) and Monster in a Box (1992) are influential in contemporary monodrama. Anna Deavere Smith’s Fires in the Mirror (1992) and Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992 are cited as important solo-voiced performances, showing a single performer embodying multiple voices. These works illustrate a range from personal storytelling to documentary-style presentation.

Related terms include one-person show, solo performance, and dramatic monologue.