What are the planning standards in designing a theatre?

(PAKIBURA NALANG ITETCH

PARA DI KA MAGULUHAN. SKL)

Amoretti, A. 2012-2021, “Theater Design: 7 Basic Rules for Designing a Good Theater”.
Arch20. Photography Challenge 2021. Retrieved from https://www.arch2o.com/theater-design-7-
for-designing-a-good-theater/

7 Basic Rules for Designing a Good Theater

1. Create a functional Auditorium based on the type of performance and the amount of people in
attendance.
It is the section of the theater that seats the audience during the performance and is
frequently referred to as the "house." The term "house" can also refer to a room that is not used
as a stage or backstage area.
The lobby, coat check, ticket counters, and restroom are all included. The amount of
space necessary for each auditorium varies depending on a variety of factors, but the following
guidelines, based on modern seating design, will help you estimate how much space you will
need:

 200 seats: 270m^2 / 2900 ft2

 150 seats: 190m^2 / 2000 ft2
 75 seats: 125m^2 / 1350 ft2

2. Maintain the standard seating distance for a comfortable audience.

The aisle is the space between rows of seats on both sides or between rows of seats on
one side and a wall on the other side for walking. The boundaries of the aisles are marked with a
series of miniature lights to promote safety when the theaters are darkened during the play. Aisle
configurations are typically divided into two categories:

The multiple-aisle layout

It has 14-16 chairs per row, with aisle access on both ends. If the aisle is only accessible
from one end of a row, the number of seats may be limited to 7 or 8.

The seating arrangement is continental.

The continental aisle configuration can offer additional sitting within the same space if
well planned. It usually takes about 7,5 square feet (2,3 square meters) per passenger, including
the seating area and aisle-way space.

3. Decide intelligently on the stage.

The stage is the designated performance space for actors and other artists, as well as the
audience's focal point. A platform (typically raised) or series of platforms may be used as an
architectural feature of the stage. These may be temporary or movable in some situations, but the
stage is usually a permanent component in theaters and other structures dedicated to such
productions. There are various kinds of stages, each with its own purpose and audience
relationship:
End-Stage: A thrust stage that extends from wall to wall, like a thrust stage but with only one
side of the audience, i.e., the front.

Behind the background wall is “Backstage.” Although there may be openings on the
flanks, there is no genuine wing area there. A music hall, for example, is a modern end-stage in
which the performance space is surrounded on three sides by background walls. Scenery, like a
thrust stage, acts as a backdrop rather than encircling the performance space.
Arena Theatre: A central stage surrounded by the audience. To increase sightlines, the stage area
is frequently raised.

The End Stage (also known as the Proscenium Stage) is the final stage of a production.
It is also known as a picture frame stage and is the most prevalent style of stage. The
proscenium arch, through which the audience observes the performance, is its most prominent
feature. The audience is seated directly in front of the stage and only sees one side of the action.
A stage may extend in front of the proscenium arch, providing the actors with additional playing
space. The apron is the name for this area. There is sometimes an orchestra pit beneath and in
front of the apron, which is utilized by musicians during musicals and operas.

Flexible theater:
Also known as "Black Box" theaters, these stages are frequently large empty boxes with
black paint on the inside. The stage and seating are not set in stone. Rather, each can be changed
to fit the needs of the play or the director's whim.

Theatres of Interest:
Frequently utilized in “found space” theaters, i.e., theaters created by repurposing
existing spaces. The audience is frequently seated on risers on either side of the stage, with little
or no crowd on either end. Actors are positioned in front of the audience in their profile. It is
frequently the most practical alternative for long, narrow spaces such as "storefronts."
A profile theater resembles an arena stage in terms of staging; some backdrop staging is allowed
at the ends, which are sides. If no one is seated behind the hoops, a basketball arena is a non-
theatrical version of the profile stage.

Sports Arenas:
Sports arenas are frequently used as concert venues. They have a rectangular floorplan
and resemble a large arena stage (more properly, the arena stage resembles a sports arena). A
temporary stage area is sometimes set up as an end-stage at one end of the floor when it is
utilized for a concert, and the rest of the floor and the stands become the audience. The
vocabulary used in arenas is unique.

4. Keep the scenery to a minimum to improve visibility.

The stage is in the center of the audience at the Theater in the Round or Arena Stage
Theater, with audience members facing it from all sides. The audience is close to the action,
creating a sense of closeness and participation. However, because scenery taller than a few feet
blocks the audience's view of the action onstage, this style severely limits the amount and visual
spectacle that can be offered for a performance.
5. Use the Thrust Stage if you want to go closer to your audience.
A thrust stage is one that extends into the audience on three sides and has an upstage end
that connects to the backstage area. A thrust allows for more intimacy between the audience and
the actors than a proscenium while still preserving the convenience of a backstage area. In a
thrust stage theater, the audience can see the stage from three or more sides.

6. Make your theater adaptable.

The term "flexible stage theater" refers to theaters that do not have a fixed relationship
between the stage and the audience. They can be included in any of the basic theater forms, as
well as modifications thereof. Typically, there is no physical separation between the stage and
the auditorium, and the audience is either standing or sitting on the main floor, intermingling
with the act.

7. It is just as vital to have good sound as it is to have good visibility.

Even though theater is a visual medium, poor sound quality will detract from even the
best plays. Sound is an area that is frequently disregarded, yet just as strong sightlines are
required, so are good sound lines. Apart from obvious comfort and size issues, the auditoria must
be designed with the following features in mind:

- External sound insulation (how often have you heard traffic, trains, or construction sounds over
the soundtrack of a movie you are watching?)

- Internal sound insulation is especially crucial when using numerous screens since a powerful
soundtrack can seep into the adjacent auditorium.

- Equipment and services Noise management — noises from air conditioning, elevators,
restrooms, and projection equipment must be kept to a minimum.

- Acoustics - From the feasibility stage – location, auditorium planning, etc. – to final
commissioning, acoustic design in theaters should be considered.