Dramatis personae

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Dramatis personae (Latin: 'persons of the drama') are the main characters in a dramatic work written in a list.^{[not verified in body]} Such lists are commonly employed in various forms of theatre, and also on screen.^{[not verified in body]} Typically, off-stage characters are not considered part of the dramatis personae.^{[not verified in body]} It is said to have been recorded in English since 1730, and is also evident in international use.^[1]

It is customary to give a cast list, which also has next to each character in a second column the name of the actor or actress playing the part; an alternative version lists the names of the actors who played the parts originally. In order not to give away vital parts of the plot some names may be altered, for example, mixed up with another name. Some minor characters may be listed just as the actors who perform the parts.^{[not verified in body]}