PARTS OF THE THEATRE
AUDIENCE = HOUSE ACTORS + CREW = STAGE
HOUSE Audience Seating WING FRONT OF HOUSE (Lobby) HOUSE Audience Seating Unseen by Audience BACKSTAGE Apron or Pit WING
FRONT OF HOUSE (services)
HOUSE Orchestra Mezzanine Or Loge Balcony & Box
HOUSE Audience Seating WING FRONT OF HOUSE (Lobby) HOUSE Audience Seating Unseen by Audience BACKSTAGE Apron or Pit WING
Apron Orchestra Pit Stage Wings & Fly System Backstage Dressing & Green Rooms
A P R O N
ORCHESTRA PIT
S T A G E B A C K
GREEN ROOM & DRESSING ROOMS
TYPES OF STAGES
FLEXIBLE ?
PROSCENIUM STAGE
A proscenium theatre is what we usually think of as a "theatre" A proscenium theatre is what we usually think of as a "theatre". Its primary feature is the Proscenium, a "picture frame" placed around the front of the playing area of an end stage. The frame is the Proscenium; the wings are spaces on either side, extending off-stage. Scenery can surround the acting area on all sides except side towards audience, who watch the play through picture frame opening. "Backstage" is any space around the acting area which is out of sight of the audience.
Pros: Sight lines (audience view) are excellent and work is easy to stage. Cons: The audience can feel quite removed from the action, especially if seated in back.
THRUST STAGE
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre was a five-sided thrust stage. A Thrust stage surrounded by audience on three sides. The Fourth side serves as the background. In a typical modern arrangement, the stage is often a square or rectangular playing area, usually raised, surrounded by raked seating (higher towards the back). Other shapes are possible. Shakespeare's Globe Theatre was a five-sided thrust stage.
Pros: The audience feel included and an intimate atmosphere is created Pros: The audience feel included and an intimate atmosphere is created. Having one end which is visible to all provides a ‘back’ to the stage. Cons: Sight lines (audience views) can still be an issue. Audience sitting opposite side (behind the action on stage) can be distracting.
ARENA STAGE
Arena staging, also known as “theatre in the round” provides a central stage surrounded by audience on all sides. The stage area may be raised or the seating area may be “raked” to improve sightlines.
Pros: It creates an intimate and exciting atmosphere Pros: It creates an intimate and exciting atmosphere. Audience feel more included because it allows for more rows of seating closer to the stage. Cons: Sight lines (audience view) might be a tricky issue. Set design is limited to in order to allow for audience to view the action. There needs to be lots of movement by the actors around the space.
TRAVERSE STAGE
Audience STAGE Traverse Or Profile Audience In TRAVERSE or PROFILE staging, the audience is placed, often on risers, to either side of the playing space, with little or no audience on either end of the “stage”. Actors are staged in profile to the audience. It is often the most workable option for long, narrow spaces. Scenically, is most like the arena stage; some background staging possible at ends.
Audience STAGE Audience Pros: The audience on either side can clearly see work that happens at two sides. Allows for more seating closer to the stage, making the feeling much more intimate. Cons: The opposing sides of the audience might cause a distraction from the actors on stage and sight lines are still a tricky issue.
FLEXIBLE BLACK BOX STAGE
? Flexible or Black Box Theatre A FLEXIBLE STAGE, sometimes called a "Black Box" theatre, are often big empty “boxes” painted black inside. Stage and seating areas are not fixed. Instead, each can be altered to suit the needs of the play or the whim of the director. Traditionally, seating is very limited, often less than 120 seats.
? Flexible or Black Box Theatre PROS: Flexible space allows presentation to be creative and imaginative. Space size usually provides for a very intimate setting for the audience. CONS: So many options, so little time. Must set up seating as well as stage and set. Intimate spaces allows limited seating/ticket sales.