Finding your way around the stage, for beginners

Theatre stage geography

"Places please!"
As a cast or crew member in any type of stage production you should know the customary terminology used for stage placement. When your director talks about movement on stage, he or she will use these terms. First we will take a look at the different areas of the stage itself and then explore some of the directional terms (such as Upstaging, Give Stage and    Take Stage). 

Different types of stages can be found and the terms used vary in relation to them. The example that is used here is for, what is called, the “proscenium stage”, which is the most common form found today and which is also the type of stage found at the Masque Theatre, as you will see in the illustration below.

A proscenium stage is oriented in such a way that the audience directly faces the playing area from the front only. The playing area is separated from the audience by a portal (the proscenium arch, or "pros" in short) and the stage is usually raised, higher than the first rows in the front of the house.

The different stage areas and what they mean

In order to keep track of how performers and set pieces move around the space, the stage is divided up into sections and oriented according to the performers' perspective to the audience.

• Stage Right: The area of the stage to the actor's right, when facing downstage (i.e. towards the audience).
• Stage Left: The area of the stage to the actor's left, when facing downstage (i.e. when facing the audience).
• Downstage: This is the area of the stage that is closest to the audience.
• Upstage: This is the area of the stage that is furthest away from the audience. 
• Centre Stage: The centre of the playing (performance) area. 
• Onstage: This is the part of the playing area that is visible to the audience.
• Offstage: The area surrounding the playing area which is not visible to the audience (such as the wings and crossover).
  

• Centre Line: Many directors refer to the centre line, which is an imaginary line that indicates the centre of the stage (playing area) and runs in an up- to downstage  direction.

The Upstage, Centre Stage and Downstage areas are each further divided into left, centre and right:

Other stage areas and components

• Apron: The area of the stage in front of the proscenium arch. It is usually not used as a playing space.
• Backstage: These are the areas of the theatre that are adjacent to the stage and can only be accessed by the performers and crew members (such as the wings, crossover, dressing rooms and green room). You can also read our article on the meaning and origins of the green room.
• Wings: The wings are the part of the stage floor, on either side to the left and right - offstage and not visible to the audience. The wings are used as a waiting area for the performers to enter and is also a work area for props, scene changes and other technical equipment. If there is no fixed set on the stage the wings are typically masked from the audience's sight by legs (long, narrow curtains). 
• Crossover: This area is used by the performers and crew members to move from stage left to right while staying out of sight of the audience.

Directional stage terms

Next we will explore some of the common terminology your director will use during rehearsals, to get you (as a performer) to move from one area to another. The use of these terms saves everyone time and serves as clear instructions. 

• Move Off: To leave the stage (eg. "Move off Right").
• Move On: To enter the stage (eg. "Move on from Up Right").
• Give Stage: To withdraw to a less prominent or obvious position.
• Take Stage: To move to a more prominent position.
• Cross: To move from one area to another (eg. "Cross from Centre to Down Left").
• Open Turn: To turn towards the audience, with one's front to the audience.
• Closed Turn: To turn away from the audience, with one's back to the audience.
• Full Front: To face the audience straight on.
• Profile Left and Profile Right: To face the audience completely to the left or right. Director's also use "half profile left" or "half profile right").
• Open Up: To turn more fully towards the audience.
• Cover (Masking): This is to block the audience's view of another performer or an object on the stage. While at times this may be director's intention it is generally frowned upon and it's the downstage actor's responsibility not to cover the upstage actor. If you are the upstage actor you need to make slight adjustments to avoid being covered.
• Upstaging: This is to stand behind an actor who is downstage from your position, forcing him to turn his back to the audience to interact with you. This term is also commonly used to indicate when someone is stealing the focus away from someone else.

We hope that you have found this article informative and that you will benefit from it. Please note that it covers only the most basic aspects of stage geography, but familiarising yourself with the above will help prepare you for your entry into theatre.

Look out for more news articles in which we will explore other aspects of theatre such as stage management, the role of a production secretary and properties (props).

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By Hein Kotze Google+