Performance Space Flashcards
Aisle
A passage through seating.
Auditorium
The part of the theatre accommodating the audience during the performance.
Sometimes known as the “house”.
Backstage
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.
Centre line
Imaginary line running down the stage through the exact centre of the proscenium opening. Marked as CL on stage plans.
Centre stage
The middle portion of the stage - has good sightlines to all seats of the auditorium.
Circle
The balcony with tiered seating above the stalls in a traditional proscenium arch theatre.
Downstage
The part of the stage nearest to the audience (the lowest part of a raked stage).
Elevator stage
A type of mechanised stage which has sections that can be raised or lowered.
House
- The audience
- The auditorium
House lights
The auditorium lighting which is commonly faded out when the performance starts.
Offstage
The area out of sight of the audience.
Raked auditorium
Audience seating area which is sloped, with its lowest part nearest the stage.
Raked stage
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.
Rostrum
(plural ROSTRA) A portable platform, usually in the form of a collapsible hinged framework with a separate top.
Stage
The part of the theatre on which performances happen.
Stage door
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.
Stage left/right
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).
Stalls
The lowest audience seating area, usually just below the level of the stage, in a proscenium theatre.
Trap
An opening through the stage floor.
Trap
Trap room
The area directly below the trapped part of the stage. Used for accessing the traps.
Treads
General name for any stage staircase or set of steps.
Upstage
The part of the stage furthest from the audience.
Wings
The out-of-view areas to the sides of the acting area.
