Dramatis personæ

Dramatis personae (Latin ) refers to the acting figures in a stage play.

The first scene of a play text, the figures of the plot are usually preceded with a short name and function name, even today, often with their age. In an opera also the voice stated. The order of the list corresponds to a rule of the order of occurrence. By the 18th century, however, certain social position of the pieces their order.

On the solo roles the silent supporting roles and ensemble occurring follow in their functions, such as theater or choir supernumeraries.

Following this, attention is drawn to the time and place of the action.