Pjäs

Pjäs is a Swedish term for a dramatic work written for the stage. It refers to the literary piece that actors perform, including dialogue and stage directions, rather than the actual performance itself, which is called a föreställning or produktion. The word is used for both individual works and collections of plays, with the singular en pjäs and the plural pjäser.

Structure and form. Pjäser are typically organized into acts and scenes and may include setting notes, character lists, and stage directions. They can be one-act or multi-act pieces and are commonly published as printed scripts for study, rehearsal, and performance. A pjäs may be adapted for different production contexts, from school stages to professional theatres.

Genres and tradition. The repertoire of pjäser spans genres such as drama, comedy, tragedy, and tragicomedy. In Swedish and broader European theatre, writers like August Strindberg and Henrik Ibsen are associated with influential dramatic works that are commonly referred to as pjäser. Productions interpret the text for specific audiences and venues, sometimes incorporating design, music, and visual storytelling.

Etymology and other senses. The term pjäs is primarily used for theatre but can also denote a part, piece, or component of a larger object or system in everyday language. In such contexts, the meaning shifts from a dramatic work to a more general sense of a part of something.

In summary, a pjäs is the written dramatic work intended for stage performance, while its actual realization is the föreställning; the term also exists in a broader sense to mean a part of something larger.