TYPES OF STAGING
Up Stage Right
(USR)
Up Stage Centre
(USC)
Up Stage Left
(USL)
Centre Stage Right
(CSR)
Centre Stage
(CS)
Centre Stage Left
(CSL)
Down Stage Right Down Stage Centre Down Stage Left
(DSR)
(DSC)
(DSL)
Audience
Complete the diagram of Areas of the Stage using both words
(e.g. Down Stage Right) and letters (e.g. DSL)
Up Stage Left
(USL)
Centre Stage Right
(CSR)
Down Stage Centre
(DSC)
Audience
Types of Staging
• Proscenium Arch
• End on (or Open stage)
• Thrust
• In the Round (or Arena
stage)
• Avenue (or Traverse)
• Promenade
Types of Staging
Proscenium arch
Proscenium and Apron
Thrust
Thrust
End On
Theatre in the round
Avenue or Traverse
Promenade
Audience
Audience
Acting Area 1
Audience
Acting Area 2
Acting Area 3
Thrust
Theatre in the round
Proscenium and Apron
Promenade
Audience
Audience
Acting Area 1
Audience
Acting Area 2
Acting Area 3
Avenue or Traverse
Proscenium Arch
• The picture frame stage
• Curtains
• Creates an illusion of reality
In the round
• Set changes need to be made in front of the
audience
• Intimate
• Small number of actors
• Needs scenery that does not obscure actors
and the rest of the stage from parts of the
audience.
• Backdrops and curtains cannot be used,
thus the director must find other ways to set
the scene.
In the Round …
• Lighting design is more difficult than for a Proscenium
stage, since the actor must be lit from all sides without
blinding nearby audience members.
• Entrances and exits must be made either through the
audience, making surprise entrances very difficult, or via
closed-off walkways, which must be inconspicuous. As a
result, stage entrances are normally in the corners of the
theatre.
• The actors need to ensure that they do not have their
backs turned to any part of the audience for long periods
of time, in order to be seen and heard clearly.
Avenue
• Full set or backdrop on two sides
• Good for productions showing a journey
• Two distinct locations
Thrust
• Set changes need to be made in front of
the audience
• Actors have to play to three sides
• Huge cast
End On
• Set changes need to be made in front of
the audience
• Huge set
• Huge cast
Promenade
• Audience walk from acting area to acting
area
• Audience might sit on the floor
• Might be outdoors (e.g. Kirrie Kist)
Off stage (Wings)
• Off stage is the area that is to the sides or rear
of the stage. It is here that actors might change
costume or change character, for instance. It
can also represent another place, such as a
different room in a house, so an unseen
character might shout through to the characters
on stage.
• Some stage lighting might be sited here to light
the stage in a particular way. Also in this area
people who aren't performing might organise
any set changes, props or sound effects
Split Stage
• The stage area is split into two or more areas - and each
area represents a different place or different time.
• For example, a woman could be reading aloud the letter
from her fiancée in the trenches telling her that things
are not so bad, but the actuality of the situation is shown
as his companion is shot and killed. The two scenes
happen either together or separately to illustrate the truth
of the war.
• The use of levels on a stage also make the performance
area look more interesting, and can be used in many
ways.
• Split staging can use two or more different levels,
and the audience can see characters better if one
group is behind the other
Test Yourself
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/
drama/performing/stagerev2.shtml