Performance Space

Question 1

Aisle

Answer 1

A passage through seating.

Question 2

Auditorium

Answer 2

The part of the theatre accommodating the audience during the performance.
Sometimes known as the “house”.

Question 3

Backstage

Answer 3

The part of the stage and theatre which is out of the sight of the audience.
The service areas of the theatre, behind, beside or underneath the stage.

Question 4

Centre line

Answer 4

Imaginary line running down the stage through the exact centre of the proscenium opening. Marked as CL on stage plans.

Question 5

Centre stage

Answer 5

The middle portion of the stage - has good sightlines to all seats of the auditorium.

Question 6

Circle

Answer 6

The balcony with tiered seating above the stalls in a traditional proscenium arch theatre.

Question 7

Downstage

Answer 7

The part of the stage nearest to the audience (the lowest part of a raked stage).

Question 8

Elevator stage

Answer 8

A type of mechanised stage which has sections that can be raised or lowered.

Question 9

House

Answer 9

1. The audience
2. The auditorium

Question 10

House lights

Answer 10

The auditorium lighting which is commonly faded out when the performance starts.

Question 11

Offstage

Answer 11

The area out of sight of the audience.

Question 12

Raked auditorium

Answer 12

Audience seating area which is sloped, with its lowest part nearest the stage.

Question 13

Raked stage

Answer 13

A sloping stage which is raised at the back (upstage) end. All theatres used to be built with raked stages. Today, the stage is often left flat and the auditorium is raked to improve the view of the stage from all seats.

Question 14

Rostrum

Answer 14

(plural ROSTRA) A portable platform, usually in the form of a collapsible hinged framework with a separate top.

Question 15

Stage

Answer 15

The part of the theatre on which performances happen.

Question 16

Stage door

Answer 16

The backstage entrance to the theatre. Performers and technicians enter here.
Large theatres normally have a stage door keeper, who takes messages for performers and acts as a security guard for the entrance.

Question 17

Stage left/right

Answer 17

Left/Right as seen from the Actor’s point of view on stage, (i.e. Stage Left is the right side of the stage when looking from the auditorium).

Question 18

Stalls

Answer 18

The lowest audience seating area, usually just below the level of the stage, in a proscenium theatre.

Question 19

Trap

Answer 19

An opening through the stage floor.

Question 20

Trap

Question 21

Trap room

Answer 21

The area directly below the trapped part of the stage. Used for accessing the traps.

Question 22

Treads

Answer 22

General name for any stage staircase or set of steps.

Question 23

Upstage

Answer 23

The part of the stage furthest from the audience.

Question 24

Wings

Answer 24

The out-of-view areas to the sides of the acting area.