Cross-Cutting

by David Farmer | Drama Strategies

What is Cross Cutting?

The dramatic action switches quickly between two scenes in the same space.

Cross-cutting (also called split-screen) is a drama technique borrowed from the world of film editing, where two scenes are intercut to establish continuity. In drama and theatre the term is used to describe two or more scenes which are performed on stage at the same time. This makes it possible to juxtapose scenes or snippets of scenes that happen at different times or in different places, using separate areas of the performance space.

The technique is used to highlight or contrast a particular theme or aspect of the story. Using different groupings, both scenes could happen at the same time, or one could be frozen while the other comes alive. This can have a similar effect to spotlighting particular areas of the stage or using a split-screen in a film.

Why use it?
Cross-cutting is invaluable for analysing themes in the performance of a drama by directly comparing or contrasting elements of the story.

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