Areas of a Proscenium Stage

Areas of a Proscenium Stage

Areas of a Proscenium Stage

Stages used to be slanted like a ramp. The top of the ramp was the furthest from the audience so they could see the actors. The lowest part of the ramp was closest to the audience. When an actor had to move away from the audience, he/she went 'upstage'. When they came closer to the audience, they came 'downstage'. The Right and Left are the actors' R & L when they face the audience.

Action on a proscenium stage

• Positions of power (a king or a leader) are usually upstage. That way the actors must turn their backs to the audience and focus attention to the 'leader'.

• Scenes that are friendship or love based are usually down right. In western culture, we read (our) left to right so positive character interactions are staged where we tend to look first.

Action on a proscenium stage

• Scenes that present conflic are usually staged down left. This draws the audiences' attention to something unexpected.

• Scenes that present the hero/protagonist in a good place or a place of stong decision are usually center or down center. This position spotlights the character.