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Theatre
Chapter 4
Theatrical Terms
Wing space: The areas on either side of
the stage which are hidden from the
audience. Often called the wings.
Masking: Any objects such as curtains
or walls which hide things from the
audience’s view. Usually curtains and
they are black.
Theatrical Terms
Fly Space: the area above a stage.
Lights can be positioned here and
scenery can be hidden here and
lowered onto the stage when it is
needed
Theatrical Terms
Raked stage: On a raked stage,
the stage floor gets higher as it
moves away from the audience,
so that the back of the stage is
actually taller than the front.
Stage Directions
Downstage: The area of the stage
closest to the audience. The front
portion of the stage. (DS)
Upstage: The area of the stage
farthest from the audience. The rear
portion of the stage. (US)
Stage Directions
Center Stage: The exact middle of the
stage.
Stage Left: the part of the stage to the
actor’s left (when facing the audience).
Stage Right: the part of the stage to the
actor’s right (when facing the audience).
A Diagram with Stage Directions
• USR
UCS
USL
• SR
CS
SL
• DSR
DCS
DSL
Theatrical Terms
• Wing and Drop sets: When a play’s
scenery is brought in from the sides of the
stage (wings) or flown (dropped) in from
the above.
• Flexible Stage: a performance space that
can be altered from one production to the
next in order to accommodate the space to
the needs and the style of the production.
Theatre Types
Black box:
• Naturally flexible spaces where the
audience and stage can be rearranged at
the whim of the director and the designers.
Thrust Stage:
• Three sides surrounded by audiences.
Arena Stage:
• Audience surrounds the stage
Proscenium Stage:
• Audience is in front of stage
All the Spaces you don’t see:
• Box Office: The area in a theatre building
where tickets are sold to the public.
• Control Booth: This is where the stage
manager and the lighting and sound
operators work from during the show. The
control booth is often found at the back of
the auditorium, facing the stage.
All the Spaces you don’t see:
• Costume Shop: A separate room, usually
in the theatre building, where costumes
are made, altered, and repaired.
• Dressing Room: Area where the actors get
in costumes and makeup prior to a
performance.
All the Spaces you don’t see:
• Electrical room / shop: a place where the
lighting designers and lighting crew can
repair and store stage lights and other
lighting equipment.
• Green Room: A lounge for the cast and
crew.
All the Spaces you don’t see:
• Scene Shop: A large area, where the sets
are built containing plenty of tools,
hardware, lumber, paint, and everything
else needed to create the physical word of
the play.
The Light
• Ghost Light: Generally, it is a single barebulb lamp which is left burning on stage at
night when the theatre is empty.