Drama is a story that is written to be performed by actors for an audience. It may be a film, a television show, or a stage play. Most of a drama is told through the characters' words. The rest of the story is told through the characters' actions. Dramas have a unique format and distinct elements. One of the most unusual of these elements is stage directions  — the directions telling characters how to speak or act. This may include the tone of voice an actor should use, where the actor should stand and what objects to use. Stage directions are often printed in brackets, so the actors and readers know that the directions are not meant to be spoken aloud. When you read a play, you use the information in the dialogue and stage directions to learn about the characters, setting and plot. Some information is directly stated. Other information can be inferred from characters' actions, expressions, and words.