toneelpunten

Toneelpunten (literally “theatre points”) is a term used in Dutch theatre practice to denote key moments in a performance that structure the action and guide the production process. The exact meaning varies by theatre company and school of dramaturgy, but generally it refers to milestones in the onstage narrative or to crucial cues in the technical timeline that affect blocking, lighting, sound, and scene changes.

In dramaturgy, toneelpunten help plan pacing and coherence by marking moments where character choices, plot pivots, or emotional shifts occur on stage. They can correspond to classic narrative beats—such as exposition, inciting incident, turning point, climax, and resolution—but are defined as onstage realizations rather than solely literary devices. Because they focus on what audiences see and hear, toneelpunten often align with cue sheets and blocking diagrams, ensuring that performance-time events match the intended dramatic effect.

Different schools may list toneelpunten differently; some distinguish between narrative toneelpunten and purely technical cues (toneeltechnische punten). In rehearsal, identifying toneelpunten supports actors, designers, and technicians in coordinating timing and emphasis.

See also: dramaturgy, stage cues, script analysis.