A play is a story actors perform, a performance is the live show, and the audience is the people watching it.
On the stage: play, performance, audience
Not ""The public clapped after the play."" — say ""The audience clapped after the play."". For the people watching a show, use audience, not "public".
Try it: Sofia: Could you hear the actors from the back row? Hiroshi: Yes. They spoke clearly, so the whole ___ could hear. Choose the word for the blank. (audience / performance / play) Answer: audience — The people watching a show are the audience.
Word
Pronunciation
Example
play
/pleɪ/
Mei saw a play at The Ghafwick Playhouse.
performance
/pərˈfɔːrməns/
Hiroshi gave a strong performance in the school concert.
audience
/ˈɔdiəns/
The audience clapped after the final song.
Live music: concert, musician, crowd
A concert is a live music show, a musician plays music, and a crowd is a large group of people in one place.
Not ""A big audience gathered in the street outside the theater."" — say ""A big crowd gathered in the street outside the theater."". People just packed together anywhere are a crowd; an audience watches or listens to a performance or speaker.
Try it: Camila: Why was the road blocked outside Ghafwick Station? Lars: A train arrived, and a huge ___ came out all at once. Choose the word for the blank. (crowd / audience / concert) Answer: crowd — A large group of people in one place is a crowd; an audience watches or listens to a performance.
Word
Pronunciation
Example
concert
/ˈkɑnsərt/
Camila attended a concert at The Ghafwick Playhouse.
musician
/mjuˈzɪʃən/
The musician played three songs on an old guitar.
crowd
/kraʊd/
The crowd cheered when the band returned to the stage.
Behind the show: effects, soundtrack, award
Special effects are the tricks that create unusual scenes in a film, the soundtrack is its music, and an award is a prize.
Try it: Ira: What are you listening to? Yasmin: The film's ___. I love the music. Choose the word for the blank. (soundtrack / special effects / award) Answer: soundtrack — The music from a film is its soundtrack.
Word
Pronunciation
Example
special effects
/ˌspeʃl̩ ɪˈfekts/
The film used special effects to show the storm.
soundtrack
/ˈsaʊndtræk/
The soundtrack made the final scene more emotional.
award
/əˈwɔːrd/
The director won an award for her first film.
The story itself
The plot is the story of a film, play or book: what happens, and in what order.
Try it: Liam: Did you understand the book in the end? Mateo: Not really. The ___ had too many surprises. Choose the word for the blank. (plot / soundtrack / audience) Answer: plot — What happens in a story, and in what order, is its plot.
Word
Pronunciation
Example
plot
/plɑt/
The plot was hard to follow.
What are the common mistakes?
Incorrect
Correct
Why
"The public clapped after the play."
"The audience clapped after the play."
For the people watching a show, use audience, not "public".
"A big audience gathered in the street outside the theater."
"A big crowd gathered in the street outside the theater."
People just packed together anywhere are a crowd; an audience watches or listens to a performance or speaker.