Theatre Spaces

1. Theatre Spaces Only necessity of a Theatre is to have a live audience and actor(s) It does not have to be a building Traditionally, there are five different types of theatre spaces

2. Types of Theatre Spaces Proscenium Stage Thrust Stage Arena Stage Black Box Found space

3. Proscenium Stage • Also called “picture frame stage” • The audience watches the action of the play through the proscenium arch • The audience sits in front of the stage like in a movie theater

4. Thrust Stage • The audience sits on three sides of the stage • This allows the audience members to be in a closer proximity to the actors

5. Arena Stage • The audience sits all around the stage (like a basketball game) • This is also called “Theatre in the Round”

6. Black Box • Flexible theatre space that can be formed into any type of theatre space • It is traditionally a room painted black, with flexible audience seating

7. Found Space • A space not originally built as a theatre • It can be anything from a park, to a street corner, to a cathedral • Often used in environmental theatre (pre-existing production is placed in a similar space the play is set)

8. Arena 2 1 Thrust 3 Proscenium 4 Found Space 5 Black Box

9. Upstage Right USR Upstage Center USC Upstage Left USL Right Wing Left Wing Stage Right SR Stage Left SL Center Stage CS Downstage Center DSC Downstage Left DSL Downstage Right DSR Apron

10. Body PositionsFrom the Actor’s Perspective ¾ Left ¾ Right Full Back Profile Right Profile Left ¼ Right ¼ Left Full Front

11. Blocking • Positioning of actors onstage using stage directions and body positions