Types of stages
Parts of a theatre stage
Stage directions
Drama types
Parts of a script
Blocking
 Proscenium
stage
 Apron:
The area of the stage in front of the
proscenium arch. Typically not used as a
performance space.
 Crossover: The area used by performers and
technicians to travel from stage left to right
out of sight of the audience onstage created
with masking and drapery.
 Plaster Line: An imaginary reference line on
the playing area that indicates where the
proscenium arch is. Typically, the plaster line
runs across the stage at the back face
(upstage face) of the proscenium wall.
 Wings:
Areas that are part of a stage deck
but offstage (out of sight of the audience).
The wings are typically masked with legs.
 Control Booth: Area in which the light and
sound crew operate the machines.
 Cat walk: section of the house hidden in the
ceiling from which many of the technical
functions of a theatre, such as lighting and
sound, may be manipulated








Upstage: The area of the stage furthest from the audience.
Downstage: The area of the stage closest to the audience.
Stage Left: The area of the stage to the performer's left, when
facing downstage (i.e. towards the audience).
Stage Right: The area of the stage to the performer's right, when
facing downstage (i.e. towards the audience).
Center Stage: The center of the playing (performance) area.
Center Line: An imaginary reference line on the playing area
that indicates the exact center of the stage, travelling from up to
downstage.
Onstage: The portion of the playing area visible to the audience.
Offstage: The area surrounding the playing space not visible to
the audience. Typically this refers to spaces accessible to the
performers but not the audience, such as the wings, crossovers,
and voms.
 Since
there are no stage directions as in the
proscenium stage actors must be identified
in a different manner.


Clock references: 12 o’ clock position is assigned
then and all other positions are worked out from
there.
Quadrants: the stage is divided in 4 quadrants
named according to compass locations, (NE, SE,
SW, NW), numbers (1-4), or letters (A-D)
 Blocking
is a theatre terms that refers to the
precise movement and positioning of actors
on a stage in order to facilitate the
performance of a play.

Entering, exiting, crossing, sitting, and standing.
 Cross:
movement from one stage position to
another.
 Countercross: movement in opposite
directions by two or more actors to balance
the stage picture.
Tragedy: a play in which the protagonist fails
achieve desired goals or is overcome by
opposing forces. Ex. Romeo & Juliet
Comedy: a play that treats characters and
situations in a humorous way and has a happy
ending. Ex. The Importance of Being Earnest
Fantasy: a play that deals with unrealistic and
fantastic characters. Ex. Wizard of Oz
Romantic Comedy: a play that presents a
idealized love affair. Ex.
 Sentimental
comedy: eighteenth-century
genre that was a reaction to the immortality
in Restoration drama
 Melodrama: plays based on romantic plots
that have little regard for convincing
motivation or detailed characterization and
that have the primary goal of keeping an
audience involved using any means.
 Play of Ideas: deals with a social problem or
ethical issue, sometimes presenting a
solution.
 Psychological
drama: a play that addresses
the complexities of the human psyche and
personal relaionships.
 The “Whoodunit”: a crime solving or
courtroom drama
 Allegory: a form of storytelling that teaches
moral concepts by using symbolic characters,
events, or objects.
 Children’s Theatre: theatre written,
designed, and performed for children.
 Puppet theatre: actors use puppets to tell a
story
 Monodrama:
a play written to be performed
by a single actor.