Stage directions are instructions in a play for technical aspects of the production, such
as lighting, sound, costume, scenery or props and, most importantly, the movement of
actors onstage. It is the stage directions that tell you what a character looks like, where
they travel in the space and what the space looks and sounds like.
a) The setting
• (The morning sunlight fills the room) What a lovely day!
b) How the character feels
• (ROBIN HOOD is angry) Shut up!
• (surprised) I didn’t expect to see you here.
• (Perplexed) No.
c) How the character moves
• (ALICIA enters the room)
• (Enter ROBIN HOOD, armed with a sword) Ah, but remember, faint
hearts never won fair lady.
• (From the right, TOM CARPENTER, the Salesman, enters, carrying two
boxes of chocolates cookies)
• (MAID MARIAN covers her face with her hands) Oh my God!
• (Taking off her right shoe) I'm so tired.
• (sits at the table at the left side of LYNDA) You know, he was doing his
best.
• (Taking JULIET’s hand) Your hand is like a holy place that my hand is
unworthy to visit.
d) How the character speaks
• (Laughing) What a fool!
• (In a creepy voice) I'll be watching you.
e) How the actors/actresses move on stage
The cast is usually told where to go on stage by stage directions. The front of
the stage, called downstage, is the end closest to the audience. The rear of
the stage, called upstage, is behind the actor's back, furthest from the
audience.
THEY ARE OFTEN IN ABBREVIATED FORM. HERE'S WHAT THEY MEAN:
C: CENTER STAGE
D: DOWNSTAGE
U: UPSTAGE
R: RIGHT
L: LEFT
DR: DOWNSTAGE RIGHT
DL: DOWNSTAGE LEFT
UR: UPSTAGE RIGHT
UL: UPSTAGE LEFT
A big element for any character onstage is their appearance. It is what
lets us know who they are and how they see themselves in the world.
Sometimes a playwright will give a full character description along with
a costuming one that gives you a complete picture of who this person is.
“Jimmy is a tall, thin young man about twenty-five, wearing a very
worn tweed jacket and flannels. Clouds of smoke fill the room
from the pipe he is smoking. He is a disconcerting mixture of
sincerity and cheerful malice, of tenderness and freebooting
cruelty; restless, importunate, full of pride, a combination which
alienates the sensitive and insensitive alike. Blistering honesty, or
apparent honesty, like his, makes few friends. To many he may
seem sensitive to the point of vulgarity. To others, he is simply a
loudmouth.”