/theatre

A LaTeX class for stage play scripts, with a focus on production

Primary LanguageTeX

theatre

The file theatre.cls is a LaTeX2 class designed to easily produce stage-play scripts for actors. Since it's rare for playwrights to also be experts of programming, most of the LaTeX-like macros and environments are conveniently hidden behind simple commands: as a result, the .tex file should be readable even by the uninitiated.

It currently supports:

  • Cover page with title, author, copyright, draft version number and contact information;
  • User-friendly way to declare new characters and extras;
  • 'Personal copy' mode for one/many characters, with their name on the cover and bolded lines.
  • Automatic cast list generation, with support for group characters and character descriptions;
  • Acts and scenes with optional titles, automatic numbering, automatic table of contents.
  • Stage directions (for single characters only, WIP)

It will soon support:

  • Larger, bolded font in cast list too for specific characters (also in title page?)
  • Stage directions for more than one actor
  • Technical directions

It will eventually support:

  • Automatic list of characters present in each scene (still some issues)
  • Customizable formatting for all elements (titles, dialogue, stage and technical directions)
  • A TikZ-drawn stage template before each act to annotate the stage layout (doors, furniture...)
  • Similar smaller drawings at the right side of the page to let actors annotate their movements during scenes
  • Landscape mode
  • Rehearsal mode (actor's line intentionally left blank)

The class is derived both from stage.cls (from which I borrowed the title page) and from dramatist.sty (from which I borrowed everything else)

Usage

A full(?) working example is provided by the example.tex file. I have no idea if I'm infringing any rights.

TODO list

  • list of characters for each scene (only if declared in castlist)

  • optional argument for \scene to manually include extras in the castlist

  • do not break down lines over two pages (maybe use curly brackets enclosure)

  • Title page:

    • total page count
    • estimated run time (?)
    • version marking

  • all pages:

    • header with "title - act X", page number
    • footer with version number, page number

  • Create a \stagedir macro capable of accepting graciously \characterdo, for ex. \johndo kisses \laurado should have both capitalized

  • Technical directions should be right aligned, with double line spacing above and below

  • OPTIONAL diagram for stage movements:

    • written on right margin of each page, fill using textheight / figureheight
    • get drawing from (editable) external tikz file, or external figure
    • insert a flag for no drawing at all --> disable \Requirepackage{tikz}, change back margins
    • how to handle right-aligned technical directions?

  • create a \setting macro, which occupies a newpage: half for setting description, half for large diagram

  • Option to landscape mode for directors (larger margins, diagrams on the side)

  • Option for two-sided printing (margins, diagram, etc)

  • Option for rehearsal mode (actor's lines are invisible (just use white-on-white coloring))

Various Ideas

Should I repeat a character's name after a stage direction, if they continue their lines?

Can there be more plays in a single document? Do they show in table of contents?

Fu*k localization

Create a detailed guide on how to use acts and scenes, how to define characters, bla bla bla... see thalia package

Write down available options for each command, also check defaults