The acting area is that part of the
available space occupied by the set
and used by the actors when acting.
Staging

 Staging is the position of the acting area relative to
the audience.
 Types of staging are
End on
Theatre in the round
Thrust
Proscenium Arch
Avenue
Promenade
For more information on staging, refer to the Staging PowerPoint.
Areas of the stage

Areas of the stage indicate the division of the acting
area into nine sections. The allocation of left and right is
taken from the point of view of the actor.
Areas of the Stage

The nine areas are, in either word (as above) or initial form. For example
Upstage Centre becomes USC and Downstage Left becomes DSL and so on.
Theatre Art:
Set

Set is scenery and furniture on the acting area
indicating the setting. To dress the set is to add
soft furnishings and set props, for example
cushions, table cloth or photographs.
Set

 Scenery and furniture provide a realistic or symbolic setting.
They can make your drama more interesting and believable.
 A set designer is responsible for the set but they take into
consideration the other theatre arts, props, lighting and
costume.
 The design has to be agreed with the director. Usually the set
designer has a meeting with the director to discuss their ideas
relating to the setting of the play, the atmosphere they wish to
create and the message they want to portray. The set designer
creates a scale model of what they want the set to look like and
the final decision lies with the director. The director considers
all the theatre arts and the practicality of the set for the actors.
Set Designs

Examples of set designs:
Scale Model:
Set Drawing:
Examples of completed Sets

Ground plan

A ground plan is a bird’s eye view of the set, showing
furniture, entrances/exits and the position of the
audience.
Ground Plan

 The ground plan should be a simplistic drawing that
anyone should be able to interpret to create the set
you need for your performance.
Ground Plan

 The following should be evident in any ground plan:
 A delineation of the acting area
 Position of audience
 Entrance/exits
 The viability of the set
 An indication of scale
 A key
A delineation of the acting area

 Indicates the boundaries of the acting area.
This is the conventional outline used for End On Staging.
If you had chosen Theatre in the round, your outline may look like this.
Ground Plan

Position of Audience
 This is indicated simply by the
word ‘audience’ in the appropriate
place(s). There is no need for
drawings.
Audience
Entrance/exits
 These are indicated by arrows
to show the actors where they
can enter and exit the scene.
The Viability of the set
 Sightlines must be considered.
 The set must allow actors to
move around the acting area,
entrance/exits must be clear
and the audience must be able
to see the action and actors.
An Indication of Scale

 Indicate the relative proportions of items on the set and the
amount of acting area they occupy. Use your common sense and
knowledge of the size of furniture compared to each other to create
your ground plan. For example…
You should not draw a sofa occupying the entire
stage area even if it is your only piece of set.
Or a chair the size of a matchbox.
A Key

 Your ground plan must
include a key so anything
that is drawn on your
ground plan is fully
explained. The following
items should only be
represented by these
symbols. Symbols for
other items may be
designed, and should be
clearly displayed in the
key.
Task

 Using your notes and knowledge of set and ground
plans you should create a ground plan for a room
you know well. Then you should draw a second
ground plan trying to adapt the set to fit a stage area.
Consider where you would place the audience, how
much stage space you have to act in, is all of the
furniture necessary? This will be used in class.
 Extension Task: Create a ground plan for a
performance you have already done, considering
staging, stage areas and the rules of a ground plan.