Vesna Majcen
1. KINDS OF STAGES
PROSCENIUM STAGE
THEATRE IN THE ROUND
TRUST STAGE
PROSCENIUM STAGE
 known as picture frame stage
 most commony used in the West
 the audience directly facing the stage
 typically raised several feet above front row audience
level
 the main stage the space behind the proscenium arch,
often marked by a curtain which can be lowered or
drawn closed
Proscenium stage
THEATRE IN THE ROUND
 known as arena theatre
 audience surrounding the stage area
 common in ancient theatre
 problem: actors at all times having their back facing
some members of the audience
 consideration: the set design
 no backstage, relying entirely on entrances in the
auditorium or from under the stage
THRUST STAGE
 facing audience on three sides
 greater intimacy between performers and the audience
than in a proscenium
 backstage area, opposed to theatre in the round
 entrances mostly from backstage
2. STAGECRAFT
• Lighting
• Make-up / wigs
• Mechanics
• Production, comprising stage management,
production management, show control, house
management and company management
• Scenery
• Props (furnishings, set dressings…)
• Wardrobe
3. PARTS OF A THEATRE
 Auditorium = where the audience is located to hear
and watch performances
 Foyer (crush room) = where audience may promenade
or converse during the intermissions.
 Seating areas:
 Stalls or arena
 Balconies or galleries
 Boxes
Boxes
Auditorium
foyer
stage
 Stage (deck, stagecraft) = space for the
performance of theatrical productions.
 Gallery
 Cloakroom = room for hanging coats and
clothes
 Dressing room (locker room, changing room)
 Front stalls
 Orchestra pit = an area where musicians
perform
Orchestra
pit
Dressing
room
4. STAGE TERMINOLOGY
• Outside (off-stage) = place not involving individuals
•
•
•
•
in the performance .
Front stage = where the performance takes place,
performers and audience are present.
Back stage = performers are present, audience is not,
performers can step out of character
“stage left” and “stage right” = directions (L&R) from
actor’s point of view
"house left" and "house right" = directions from
audience’s point of view
 “upstage" = the part of the stage furthest from the
audience
 "downstage" = closest to the audience
GLOSSARY
 Boxes = lože
 Foyer = preddverje
 Cloakroom = garderoba
 Changing room = oblačilnica
 Pit (orchestra pit) = jama
 Auditorium = avditorij
 Audience = publika
 Backstage = zaodrje
 Props = gledališki rekviziti
 Off-stage = zakulisje
 Proscenium stage = proscenijski oder
 Theatre in the round = okrogel oder
 Thrust stage = klinasti oder
 Scenery = scena