Dramatis personae in a play refers to

Dramatis personae refers to the list of characters in a play or theatrical production. It provides information about the names, roles, and sometimes descriptions of the characters in the play. This list serves as a reference for the audience to keep track of the different characters and their relationships to the story. The dramatis personae is usually included in the beginning of a play, after the title page and before the start of the script. It is also sometimes called the "cast list" or "list of characters." It is not the same as the protagonist and antagonist, who are specific characters within the play, but rather a comprehensive list of all characters appearing in the play, regardless of their importance or role. It is also not related to the order of appearance, which refers to the sequence in which the characters appear on stage.