Stage Geography
By: [Link] Catalan
BCAEd- III
Stage Geography
• The playing area isseparated 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.
• Scenically, a profile theatre is most like an arena stage; some staging as
background is possible at ends, which are essentially sides. A non-
theatrical form of the profile stage is a basketball arena, if no-one is
seated behind the hoops. Sports Arenas: Sports arenas often serve as
venues for Music Concerts.
The Different Stage Areas and What
They Mean
• Stage Right: The area of the stage to the actor's right, when facing
downstage (towards the audience).
• Stage Left: The area of the stage to the actor's left, when facing
downstage (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
• 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.
