Stage Geography and Direction

For those who do not have much acting or stage experience, the geography of a stage and
how an actor is positioned can be confusing. New actors are often puzzled by which direction
to face, turn, or walk when a director speaks in “stage talk”. Even if you are experienced in
theatre, some directors use slightly different terminology that might conflict with what you
though you knew. Therefore it is important for us as a class to establish a vocabulary that we all
can use and understand.

Down Stage – the area of the stage that is closest to the audience
Up Stage – the area of the stage that is farthest from the audience
Stage Right – the area of the stage that is to YOUR right when you are facing the audience
Stage Left - the area of the stage that is to YOUR left when you are facing the audience
Center Stage – this is the middle of the stage area front to back and left to right
Profile – a direction to the actor to face either side of the stage
Quarter – a direction to the actor to turn their body at a 45 degree angle to the audience and
face the opposite side of the theatre from where they are standing
Full Front – direction to the actor to turn their body straight out to the audience
Full Back – direction to the actor to turn their body completely away from the audience
Cross – direction to the actor to walk from one part(side) of the stage to another

House – the area of the theatre where the audience sits

Proscenium – the archway on the front of the stage that frames the acting area
Wings – the areas off stage to the right and left
Fly Space – area above the stage where scenery and curtains are hung when not in use
Fly System – the weight/pulley rigging used to pull the battens up into the fly space
Catwalk – a narrow bridge area in the ceiling that provides access to hung scenery or lighting
instruments.
Technical Booth – area usually located at the back of the theatre that houses the lighting and
sound controls and spot lights
Pit – the area where the orchestra is located (in our case this is sunken below the stage)
Apron – the area of the stage that extends in front of the proscenium.
Main Curtain or Grand Drape – the curtain closest to the audience usually a different color from
the other curtains
Traveler – a curtain that can span the entire width of the stage
Teaser/Border – the short curtains that are used above the stage to mask curtain rigging or
electrical bars (Teaser is the common term for the one farthest down stage)
Tormenter/Legs – the curtains on the sides of the stage used to mask the wings
(Tormenter is the common term for the one farthest down stage)
Electrical – these are the bars from which lighting units are hung
Batten – these are the bars from which scenery is hung
Cyclorama – this is the single colored piece of fabric hung from the up stage batten on which
lighting effects are projected.
Scrim – this is a single colored piece of porous fabric, which can be used in different ways
depending on how they are lighted. They can appear to be either transparent or opaque.
Green Room – a room on either side of the stage where actors gather when they are not on
stage
Stage Positions/Directions

Up Stage

Stage Right

Stage Left

Down Stage

Audience
(House)

Up-Stage Traveler

Legs Legs

Mid-Stage Stage
Stage
Left
Right
Wing
Wing

Legs Legs
Grand Drape

Pit or Forestage

Audience
(House)
Marking a Script

And now for the application of this knowledge. As a member of this class or any production
that you become involved in, it is very important that when you are given direction, you notate
that in your script and/or score. There are traditional shortcuts to writing these stage directions
that make it easier for you to write in your script in a quick manner. Please look these over,
memorize them, and apply them to any future direction that you are given.