1. theatre arts
MOVEMENT

2. TYPES OF STAGES
PROSCENIUM
THRUST
ARENA

3. PROSCENIUM

4. Proscenium Stage
PROSCENIUM ARCH
AUDIENCE
APRON

5. THRUST

6. THRUST STAGE

7. ARENA “theatre in the round”
flexible seating

8. ARENA STAGE

9. STAGE DIRECTIONS proscenium & thrust stage only
Strongest area

10. BODY POSITIONS FF-important lines ¼ - most dialogue scenes Profile:
intense scenes such as quarreling, accusing, romancing, etc.
used to obtain comic effects
FB – used in special occasions

11. Identify the body positions…
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

12. MOVEMENT Movement must reveal character.
All movement MUST be motivated or justified.  
NO shuffling your feet, fidgeting, or nervously moving.
An actor should never move without a purpose.
All movement must be simplified.  
Use carefully chosen movement that clearly conveys your ideas.
Movement must reveal character.
A character’s personality, attitude, health & age SHOWS movement
Fat person vs. thin person; easy-going person vs. nervous person;   Youth’s actions vs. older people.  
Always move in character!

13. BLOCKING The precise movement and positioning of an actor on a stage
BLOCKING NOTATIONS
EN – enter (to come in)
EX – exit (to leave)
X – to cross (or move from 1 stage area to another)
CX – counter cross (move away)
A – above (upstage of object)
B – below (downstage of object)
O – open up or “cheat out” (turn body, face to audience)

14. BLOCKING NOTATIONS 1. DR 1/4L 2. X UC-FF 3. X UR-1/4L 4. X C-PRL
5. X DL-3/4R
6. X UL-FF

15. FLOOR PLAN X Straight cross Curved cross
shortest, most direct route
Strength, decisiveness & determination
Curved cross
indecision, casualness, grace, or ease
A bird’s eye view of the set, drawn to scale, showing placement of set pieces & furniture X
Front door
Bath room
Desk
Windows

16. CHARACTER MOVEMENT
When an actor adds DETAILED, physical action, which furthers the character’s believability and realism
Mannerisms
Stage Business
Gestures

17. CHARACTER MOVEMENT MANNERISMS STAGE BUSINNESS GUESTURES
Habits of the character without a prop
Ex: bouncing leg, twirling hair, cracking knuckles
STAGE BUSINNESS
Habits of the character with a prop
Ex: smoking, tapping a pencil, popping chewing gum
GUESTURES
using hand, arm, body, head or face movements to express thought or emotion
Ex: wave good bye or come here; frown, stick out tongue

18. Identify the gesture, mannerism or stage business…

19. CHARACTER MOVEMENT WEIGHT TIME SPACE POSTURE
How light or heavy the character is on their feet; not the physical weight of the character
TIME
The speed in which the character moves
SPACE
The amount of space the character occupies or takes up
POSTURE
The body position of the character as they move

20. MOVEMENT REMINDERS (all but arena)
AWAYS…..
Use the upstage part of your body
Stay open to audience
Use motivated movement
Use detailed movement to show characterization
NEVER….
Break character
Pace, wonder or just stand there