Types of Theatre Stages
and parts of the stage!
Different types of Stages
Wings
STAGE
Apron
Audience
Wings
Proscenium Arch
Stage within an enclosing arch
Different types of Stages
Audience
Stage
Audience
Audience
Thrust Stage
Audience seated on three
sides of the acting area
Different types of Stages
Theatre in the round
Audience seated all around
the acting area
Stage
Audience
Audience
Audience
Audience
Theatre Stage Vocabulary
The term given to the part of the stage in
front of the curtain.
Apron
Theatre Stage Vocabulary Revision
The name given to the areas of seating
above the mezzanine.
Balcony
Theatre Stage Vocabulary
The name is given to the area for the
audience, generally filled with seats.
House
Sometimes called the
Auditorium
Theatre Stage Vocabulary
The term that is given to any job in the
theatre which involves dealing with the
audience e.g. box office, refreshments,
usher.
Front of
House
Theatre Stage Vocabulary
The name given to the non-acting area
behind the stage.
Backstage
Theatre Stage Vocabulary
What is the name given to the area of
seating above the stalls and below the
balcony?
Mezzanine
Theatre Stage Vocabulary
What is the name given to the canvas cloth
which covers the back of the stage: can be
lit?
Cyclorama
Theatre Stage Vocabulary
The name given to the area above the stage
from where scenery/actors are flown in on
pulleys.
Flies
Theatre Stage Vocabulary
The name given to the drapes which curtain
off the sides, or back, of the stage.
Generic term: Blacks
Teasers
Legs
Borders
Theatre Stage Vocabulary
Name given to the area in which actors wait
when not on stage during a performance.
Green room
Theatre Stage Vocabulary
Term given to the side of the stage where
prompter and stage manager sit during
performance.
Stage Manager’s
stations
Theatre Stage Vocabulary
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
Skrim
Theatre Stage Vocabulary
The name for stage
fireworks?
Pyrotechnics
Theatre Stage Vocabulary
Term for a piece of scenery on wheels for
ease of movement?
Wagons
Theatre Stage Vocabulary
The name given to a stage which turns in a
circle.
Revolving Stage
Theatre Stage Vocabulary
The term given to the sides of a theatre stage
hidden from audience view.
Wings
Theatre Stage Vocabulary
The name given to a door in a
floor.
Trapdoor
Questions!
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Take each type of stage and write down the advantages and
disadvantages of using this type of stage for a performance.
Give reasons why you think using a Revolving stage would be
effective for a performance.
Write down your design ideas for using either a backdrop 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?
Imagine you have to design a Backdrop 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. What images would be on it?
Can you think of two reasons why having stage Wings would be
useful during a performance?