How Do You Spell METAPLAY?

Metaplay refers to the concept of a play within a play or the self-referential aspect of theater where the performance becomes a commentary on the nature of theater itself. The term is derived from the combination of "meta" (meaning self-referential or transcending) and "play" (meaning a form of dramatic performance). Metaplay serves as a tool for self-reflection and evaluation, often blurring the line between reality and fiction.

In metaplay, the actors or characters in a play may step out of their roles and directly address the audience, breaking the fourth wall, which adds a layer of self-awareness and invites the audience to question the nature of storytelling and the conventions of theatrical representation. It can also involve the inclusion of scenes or elements that comment on the process of theater-making itself, such as discussing the rehearsal process or the nature of acting.

Metaplay often aims to challenge traditional theatrical conventions and explore ideas such as the relationship between actors and audience, the boundaries between reality and fiction, and the power dynamics inherent in performance. By drawing attention to itself as a construct, metaplay offers a form of artistic introspection and invites critical reflection on the nature of theater and the role it plays in society.

Overall, metaplay is a genre of theater that engages with self-reflection and self-reference, blurring the boundaries between reality and fiction as it questions and comments on the art of theater.