1. PARTS
OF THE
THEATRE

2. AUDIENCE = HOUSE
ACTORS + CREW = STAGE

3. HOUSE Audience Seating
WING
FRONT OF
HOUSE
(Lobby)
HOUSE
Audience Seating
Unseen by Audience
BACKSTAGE
Apron or Pit
WING

4. FRONT OF
HOUSE
(services)

5. HOUSE
Orchestra
Mezzanine
Or Loge
Balcony & Box

6. HOUSE Audience Seating
WING
FRONT OF
HOUSE
(Lobby)
HOUSE
Audience Seating
Unseen by Audience
BACKSTAGE
Apron or Pit
WING

7. Apron
Orchestra Pit
Stage
Wings & Fly System
Backstage
Dressing & Green Rooms

8. A P R O N

9. ORCHESTRA
PIT

10. S T A G E B A C K

11. GREEN ROOM & DRESSING ROOMS

13. TYPES OF
STAGES

14. FLEXIBLE ?

15. PROSCENIUM
STAGE

16. A proscenium theatre is what we usually think of as a "theatre"
A proscenium theatre is what we usually think of as a "theatre". Its primary feature is the Proscenium, a "picture frame" placed around the front of the playing area of an end stage.
The frame is the Proscenium; the wings are spaces on either side, extending off-stage. Scenery can surround the acting area on all sides except side towards audience, who watch the play through picture frame opening. "Backstage" is any space around the acting area which is out of sight of the audience.

18. Pros: Sight lines (audience view) are excellent and work is easy to stage.
Cons: The audience can feel quite removed from the action, especially if seated in back.

19. THRUST
STAGE

20. Shakespeare's Globe Theatre was a five-sided thrust stage.
A Thrust stage surrounded by audience on three sides. The Fourth side serves as the background. In a typical modern arrangement, the stage is often a square or rectangular playing area, usually raised, surrounded by raked seating (higher towards the back). Other shapes are possible.
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre was a five-sided thrust stage.

22. Pros: The audience feel included and an intimate atmosphere is created
Pros: The audience feel included and an intimate atmosphere is created. Having one end which is visible to all provides a ‘back’ to the stage.
Cons: Sight lines (audience views) can still be an issue. Audience sitting opposite side (behind the action on stage) can be distracting.

23. ARENA
STAGE

24. Arena staging, also known as “theatre in the round” provides a central stage surrounded by audience on all sides. The stage area may be raised or the seating area may be “raked” to improve sightlines.

26. Pros: It creates an intimate and exciting atmosphere
Pros: It creates an intimate and exciting atmosphere. Audience feel more included because it allows for more rows of seating closer to the stage.
Cons: Sight lines (audience view) might be a tricky issue. Set design is limited to in order to allow for audience to view the action. There needs to be lots of movement by the actors around the space.

27. TRAVERSE
STAGE

28. Audience
STAGE
Traverse
Or Profile
Audience
In TRAVERSE or PROFILE staging, the audience is placed, often on risers, to either side of the playing space, with little or no audience on either end of the “stage”. Actors are staged in profile to the audience. It is often the most workable option for long, narrow spaces.
Scenically, is most like the arena stage; some background staging possible at ends.

30. Audience
STAGE
Audience
Pros: The audience on either side can clearly see work that happens at two sides. Allows for more seating closer to the stage, making the feeling much more intimate.
Cons: The opposing sides of the audience might cause a distraction from the actors on stage and sight lines are still a tricky issue.

31. FLEXIBLE
BLACK BOX
STAGE

32. ? Flexible or Black Box Theatre
A FLEXIBLE STAGE, sometimes called a "Black Box" theatre, are often big empty “boxes” painted black inside. Stage and seating areas are not fixed. Instead, each can be altered to suit the needs of the play or the whim of the director. Traditionally, seating is very limited, often less than 120 seats.

34. ? Flexible or Black Box Theatre
PROS: Flexible space allows presentation to be creative and imaginative. Space size usually provides for a very intimate setting for the audience.
CONS: So many options, so little time. Must set up seating as well as stage and set. Intimate spaces allows limited seating/ticket sales.