Stage Configurations
End on Stage
Audience is on ONE side with everyone facing the front of the stage
Pros
- Actors and set all face the same direction which can make staging a performance easier
- The audience all face the same way so everyone gets a similar experience
- Wing space makes changing set & props, and entrances/exits easier
Cons
- Audience can feel disconnected from the action if they are sitting further back in the auditorium
Avenue Staging
Audience are on two sides of the stage. They are on opposite sides facing each other with the stage in the middle
Pros
- Audience feel connected to the action and the actors feel connected to the audience
- Audience can see other audience members and have a shared experience
- Unusual staging can be exciting to watch with the audience moving their gaze from end to end
Cons
- Audience can see other audience members which can sometimes remind them they are watching a play
- No tall pieces of set can be used as this would block some audiences' view
- Actors/directors have to be aware of acting to both sides
- Audiences get a different view and therefore different experience on either side
Thrust Staging
Audience sits on 3 sides on the stage with the acting area 'thrust' into the seating area. Entrances & exits would be at the 'back' of the performance space at each side.
Pros
- Audience and actors can feel very connected throughout performance
- Almost all aspects of the performance can be seen from the audience.
- Audience can see each other and experience each other's reactions to the performance.
Cons
- Very difficult to use large items of set
- Difficult to hide any performance illusions from the audience.
Theatre in the Round
Audience on all sides. Entrances & exits come through spaces between the audience
Pros
- Audience feel emotionally connected to the action & actors can connect easily with the audience
- Audience can see everything that takes place on stage
- Actors entering through the audience can make them feel physically part of the action
- Easily creates a feeling of intimacy or voyeurism in a performance
Cons
- Any large items of set can obscure audience view.
- No 'wing' space for quick set & costume changes
- Director and actors needs to consider all 4 points of view when blocking the performance
- Actors are very 'exposed'
Proscenium Arch
Same configuration as end on staging however with an archway separating the audience and the performance space. Usually found in larger venues - often has a feeling of grandeur compared to a simple end-on. Tends to be used for larger scale performances that do not depend on a feeling of intimacy with the audience. Proscenium Arch uses the curtain to split the main performance space with the 'apron' in front (narrow performance space at the front of the stage.
Promenade Theatre
The performance takes place in a variety of spaces and the audience move around to each watching different scenes in different locations. These may be outdoor locations or they may be in different spaces within the same building. This makes the audience feel actively involved in the performance as they move with the story. Promenade theatre can become challenging when considering audiences with mobility issues. Also audiences sizes need to be considered to ensure that they can easily move between spaces and position themselves to they can see the action at each point.
Set to create setting
Some videos from professionals working in the industry - set designers
aREAS OF THE STAGE
An end-on theatre can be split into 9 performance areas. The area closer to the audience is DOWN STAGE and the area further away from the audience is UP STAGE. Stage Left and Stage Right are from the perspective of the actor and NOT the audience. You must use the correct initial when directing, writing stage directions and annotating your script so that actors, set, props etc are all positioned on the correct place on the stage.
Making a Ground Plan
A ground plan is a birds eye view of your set design. It is 2 dimensional (flat) and uses symbols and very basic images to represent your set design. Remember that a ground plan only shows SET, NOT SET-PROPS. If an item is easily moved and placed by stage hands then it is a SET-PROP.
A ground plan should:
- Be drawn to scale - i.e. designs and items are proportionate to the performance space
- Show the stage configuration clearly - Audience should be marked on your drawing
- Show entrances & exits
- Include a key of all symbols used
- be drawn neatly, in pencil, with a ruler used for all straight lines
- use the traditional, universal ground plan symbols as far as possible
Below is a list of some ground plan symbols followed by some examples of stage ground plans. More can be found in your vocabulary booklet. These are the most common that you will use though. If you have an item of set that is slightly more unusual or does not have a universal symbol then you should drawn a shape to represent it - but remember it should be a 2D shape NOT 3D.
The last image (bottom right) shows a ground plan and then the elevation of this plan. Whilst a ground plan is a 2-dimensional drawing from a birds-eye view, an elevation is a sketch of what the audience would see facing the performance space. The elevation drawing for a scene is a 3-dimensional drawing showing perspective and preferably in colour.
Key Set Vocabulary
Apron - space at the front of the stage in front of the curtains
Black box theatre - a studio style performance space where the stage is painted black with black curtains
Cyclorama - White sheet that is pulled taut and positioned at the far back of the performance space. This is used to project images and videos onto.
Flat - sheet of wood placed at the back of the stage, decorated to show the setting. You can have flats with doors and windows too
Flying - flying set, flats, actors etc are moved through the air with a series of pulley systems and harnesses.
Fourth Wall - the imaginary wall between the performance space and the audience. Traditional naturalistic theatre does not usually 'break' the fourth wall.
Gauze - translucent fabric that can be positioned anywhere on the performance space. When lights are shone onto the front it stays opaque (audience can not see through). When lights are shone behind the gauze, it becomes translucent and the audience can see through to the action behind.
Revolve - Large circular section of the stage that rotates throughout the performance to change scene or set
Rostra - Raised platform on the stage to create different levels for the actors
Transitions - changing from one scene to another
Treads - stairs or steps on the stage. When drawn in a ground plan there should be an arrow point up the steps
Wings - Space at the side of the stage where actors enter/exit, set is stored. The Stage Manager and the stage hands also stay here
Credits:
Created with an image by Rob Laughter - "Snapped this pic while shooting a production at the Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham, NC."