1. Theater Stages

2. Different types of Staging
Proscenium Arch
Stage within an enclosing arch
Wings
Wings
STAGE
Apron
Audience

3. Different types of Staging
Thrust Stage Audience seated on three sides of the acting area
Audience
Audience
Stage
Audience

4. Different types of Staging
End On Stage Audience seated at one end – acting area at the other
Audience
Stage

5. Different types of Staging
Theatre in the round
Audience seated all around the acting area
Audience
Audience
Audience
Stage
Audience

6. Different types of Staging
Avenue Stage (also known as Traverse Stage)
Audience seated on two sides of the acting area. Seats are often raked.
Audience
Audience
Stage

7. Different types of Staging
Promenade Theatre Audience follows the action on foot, moving from one location to another.
Stage
Stage
Stage

8. Theatre Stages
•You have now revised your knowledge of the different types of staging. •We will work our way through the following slides and write down your answers to the given definitions. You can check your answers at the end. •At the end you will find some types of stage and theatre stage revision questions to complete.

9. Theatre Stage Vocabulary
What is the term given to the part of the stage in front of the curtain?
Apron

10. Theatre Stage Vocabulary Revision
What name is given to the areas of seating above the stalls?
Balcony

11. Theatre Stage Vocabulary Revision
What name is given to the area for the audience, generally filled with seats?
House
Sometimes called the Auditorium

12. Theatre Stage Vocabulary Revision
What term is given to any job in the theatre which involves dealing with the audience e.g. box office, refreshments, usher?
Front of House

13. Theatre Stage Vocabulary Revision
What is the name given to the non-acting area behind the stage?
Backstage

14. Theatre Stage Vocabulary Revision
What is the name given to the area of seating above the stalls and below the balcony?
Dress Circle

15. Theatre Stage Vocabulary Revision
What is the name given to the canvas cloth which covers the back of the stage: can be lit?
Cyclorama

16. Theatre Stage Vocabulary Revision
What is the name given to the area above the stage from where scenery/actors are flown in on pulleys ?
Flies

17. Theatre Stage Vocabulary Revision
What is the name given to the drapes which curtain off the sides, or back, of the stage?
Generic term: Blacks
Teasers
Legs
Borders

18. Theatre Stage Vocabulary Revision
What is the name given to the area in which actors wait when not on stage during a performance?
Green room

19. Theatre Stage Vocabulary Revision
What is the name given to the back white drop which can be lit?
Cyclorama

20. Theatre Stage Vocabulary Revision
What is the term given to the side of the stage where prompter and stage manager sit during performance?
Stage Manager’s stations

21. Theatre Stage Vocabulary Revision
What is the name for the see-through material which cannot be seen through when lit from the front, but can be seen through when lit from behind? Click HERE to see some examples of this.
Skrim

22. Theatre Stage Vocabulary Revision
What is the name for stage fireworks?
Pyrotechnics

23. Theatre Stage Vocabulary Revision
What is the term for a piece of scenery on wheels for ease of movement?
Wagons

24. Theatre Stage Vocabulary Revision
What is the name given to a stage which turns in a circle?
Revolving Stage

25. Theatre Stage Vocabulary Revision
What is the term given to the sides of a theatre stage?
Wings

26. Theatre Stage Vocabulary Revision
What is the name given to a door in a floor?
Trapdoor

27. Revision Questions
Now you have revised your knowledge of the different types of staging and the Theatre Stage vocabulary, answer the following questions on paper or on WORD and to your teacher. Choose either General or Credit level.

28. General Level Revision Questions
Take ‘Theatre in the round’, ‘Thrust Stage’ and a ‘Proscenium Arch’ stage in turn and say what you would consider to be the advantages and disadvantages of using each of these types of staging for a performance.
Think of a recent stimulus drama. What would have been the ideal venue and target audience for your drama? Say why.
Draw the stage, marking the audience position clearly for this IDEAL venue. Use slides two to seven to help you.
Imagine you have to design a Backcloth for the scenery of a play set in a busy street. Outline what ideas you would have and why these would help set this scene.
Can you think of two reasons why having stage Wings would be useful during a performance?

29. Credit Level Revision Questions
Take each type of staging and write down the advantages and disadvantages of using this type of stage for a performance.
Think of a recent stimulus drama. What would you choose as the ideal venue for this performance? Give reasons why.
Click HERE or visit the site to try the 2009 SQA Credit Past Paper question number four, which asks about the staging and seating arrangements in a Theatre. If you are unsure go back through the slides.
Give reasons why you think using a Revolving stage would be effective for a performance.
Write down your design ideas for using either a Gauze, backcloth or Cyclorama for a performance which is set in a Graveyard. Explain your choice.
Give an example of a performance you have either seen or created where you could have used Flies?

30. Well Done
You have now completed revision on Staging and Theatre Stage vocabulary. NOW evaluate your understanding: If you require more help inform your teacher and refer to the ‘Body of Knowledge.’
Red- still struggling
Amber -understand some of this revision
Green- fully understand