A one-act play is a separate literary form that has only one act, as distinct from plays that occur over several acts. It is a concise, focused narrative that usually has a running time of between 15 minutes to an hour, and focuses on a single event or problem, taking place in a single setting. Here are some of the key characteristics of a one-act play:

• Structure: A one-act play should have a beginning, middle, and end, and may be divided into four stages: the exposition, the conflict, the climax, and the denouement. The exposition serves as an introduction to the play, while the conflict is where the action of the drama develops. The climax is the turning point of the play, and the denouement is where the story is resolved.

• Characters: One-act plays usually have a small number of characters, often three to five people. The characters should be interesting and well-developed, with clear motivations and goals.

• Theme: The one-act play tends to focus on a single theme or situation unfolding over the course of the play. The theme can be anything from love, marriage, divorce, justice, crime, punishment, law, superstitions, customs, and manners.

• Length: A one-act play is usually shorter in duration than a full-length multi-act play. It typically has a playing time of 20 to 60 minutes.

• Setting: One-act plays usually take place in a single setting. The setting should be well-described and should contribute to the overall mood and atmosphere of the play.

• Action: The challenge for the one-act playwright is to create a story with interesting characters, action, and meaning in a relatively small amount of space. The plot of the one-act play generally starts from the critical juncture of drama, and the sudden story plot and vivid characters are the core of the characteristics of one-act play.

• Unity: There are three dramatic unities that are observed in the one-act play: the unity of time, unity of place, and unity of action. The play should be close-knit, and everything superfluous should be avoided as the play is short and the action takes place within a short period of time[[5]](https://www.hellovaia.com/explanations/english-literature/literary-devices/one...