A monologue is a play or part of a play that involves one person/character speaking. Playwrights may give one character a lengthy speech so that they can explore and work towards the resolution of a key issue or problem. The monologue may offer the character an opportunity to ‘discover’ information important to themselves and the dramatic action. Accordingly appropriate monologues provide the actor with an opportunity to show the character’s journey.

There are three styles in which a monologue can be presented:

1. Interior monologue: where the characters speaks aloud their thoughts without directly acknowledging the audience.
2. Character directed: where the character speaks to another person on stage (see or unseen by the audience)

Direct address: where the monologue is spoken directly to the audience as a shared thought, account, reflection or revelation.