Theatre Unit 1 – Vocabulary & Essential Concepts

Front

Proscenium Stage

Back

A stage where the audience sits only on one side. Framed like a picture with a proscenium arch.

Front

Alley Stage (Traverse Stage)

Back

Narrow stage with audience seated on two opposite sides. Often called a runway or catwalk.

Front

Thrust Stage

Back

Stage extends into the audience with seating on three sides.

Front

Arena Stage (Theatre-in-the-Round)

Back

Stage is surrounded by the audience on all four sides.

Front

Blocking Stage Directions

Back

Directions used to label areas of the stage for actor and tech placement.

Front

Scripted Stage Directions

Back

Instructions in a script that show how a character moves, emotes, or delivers a line.

Front

Stage Left

Back

Actor's left (from the actor’s perspective facing the audience).

Front

Stage Right

Back

Actor's right (from the actor’s perspective facing the audience).

Front

Upstage

Back

Away from the audience.

Front

Downstage

Back

Toward the audience.