explain for me

Stage Types

You will be introduced to the four most

commonly used types of stages in use today

Proscenium Stage • The Proscenium stage is the type of stage that most

of us picture when asked to imagine a stage:

Structure of the Proscenium Stage

• The proscenium stage

features “wings”—(See image). The wings

allow for easy storage and changes of large and elaborate set

pieces. They are NOT visible to the audience

• What the audience

sees is “framed” by the proscenium arch itself.

Floor Plan of a Proscenium stage Image copyright 2011 McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc

• Here you can clearly see

the proscenium arch

(outlined in yellow)

• You can also see that the

audience all faces one

direction when viewing

theatre on a proscenium

stage.

• This enables the

audience to view the

play as if they are seeing

the action with one wall

of a room removed.

Notice the significant distance between the front

of the stage and the first row of seats

Note that

you can

clearly

see the

entrance

to the wings

here

Notice

that the

stage is

elevated

above the level

of the

first row

of seats

A Set on a Proscenium Stage

Notice how this set has lots of big, elaborate pieces to it. This is possible because of the way the

proscenium stage is set up—especially the fact that the audience is only facing one side of the stage; there is no worry about set pieces blocking the audience’s sightlines.

Design by Gary Hoff

How the Proscenium Stage

Impacts the Viewing Experience • The proscenium arch and wings allow for large,

elaborate set pieces or major set changes.

• The fact that the audience is only facing one side of the stage means that actors must try to face

forward as much as possible.

• The audience members are usually a fair distance away from the stage (especially if they are sitting towards the back of the theatre). This means that

actor gestures, expressions and speech, as well as costumes, set pieces and props must be able to be

seen and “understood” from farther away.

Thrust Stage • The thrust stage seems very modern to us, but it is

actually one of the oldest types of stage

The theatres of the ancient Greeks (like this one) are

examples of thrust stages

Structure of the Thrust Stage

• The thrust stage “thrusts” out into the audience, with the audience sitting on three of the four sides of the stage. It has some wing space, but not as much as the proscenium.

• Any large set pieces must be placed at the back of the stage so they do not block the audience’s view

• The audience is very close to the stage and performers

Floor Plan of a Thrust stage

Image copyright 2011 McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc

• Here you can clearly see

that the largest part of the

set is at the back of the

stage

• You can also see that the

audience sits on three

sides of the stage

• This enables the

audience to view the

play with a great deal of

intimacy: actors are very

close to the audience.

Thrust stage at the Stratford Festival in Ontario

Notice how CLOSE the stage is to the first row of

seats

You can

clearly see

the entrance

to the wings

here, but note that the

wing space

is much

smaller then

on a

proscenium stage

Notice that

the stage is

at or below

the level of

the first row

of seats

A Set on a Thrust Stage

Notice how this set has some big, elaborate pieces to it, but they are all towards the back of the stage. All of the set pieces that are closer to the front of the

stage are smaller, furniture-scale, so that the audience can see over them.

Set design by Theresa McEndarfer

How the Thrust Stage Impacts

the Viewing Experience • There will usually only be one large set piece, located at

the back of the stage. Set changes will be minimal, if

there are any.

• Because the audience is on three sides of the stage,

actors will have their backs to some part of the audience

almost all the time. This means that actors will need to

move frequently so that no one section of the audience

sees the same backs for long.

• The audience members are usually very close to the

stage. This means that actor gestures, expressions and

speech, as well as costumes, set pieces and props must

be detailed enough to be viewed in close proximity.

Arena Stage or Theatre in the Round

• The arena stage is another type of contemporary

stage that has its roots in very old performance and ritual spaces

Structure of the Arena Stage

• The arena stage has the audience sitting on all four sides of the stage. It has no immediately accessible backstage area.

• Because the audience is on all sides, all set pieces have to be small so as not impede their view

• The audience is very close to the stage and performers

Floor Plan of an Arena stage Image copyright 2011 McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc

• Here you can clearly

see that all pieces of

the set are furniture

scale or smaller so

that the audience can

over them

• You can also see that

the audience sits on

all sides of the stage

• This enables the

audience to view the

play with a great deal

of intimacy: actors are

very close to the

audience.

Notice that on this stage, the audience is

practically onstage with the performers

Notice that there is no

wing space on

this stage. Instead there

are entrances for the actors,

but not for set

pieces.

Note that the

stage is

below the

level of the

first row of seats.

A Set on an Arena Stage

Notice how this set has a few small pieces to it. This is necessary because of the way the arena stage is set up—especially the fact that the audience is on all

sides of the stage. Larger pieces would block the audience’s view.

How the Arena Stage Impacts

the Viewing Experience • There will usually be no large set pieces, but instead

several smaller furniture-scaled pieces.

• Because the audience is on all sides of the stage, actors will have their backs to some part of the audience almost all the time. This means that actors will need to move frequently so that no one section of the audience sees the same backs for long.

• The audience members are usually very close to the stage. This means that actor gestures, expressions and speech, as well as costumes, set pieces and props must be detailed enough to be viewed in close proximity.

Black Box Theatre • A black box theatre is a stage space that can be

configured in many different ways; it is a flexible space.

Structure of the Black Box Stage

• The black box stage can be set up like a proscenium, thrust or arena stage, as well as other configurations.

• Because the space can be reconfigured, seating, stage, and lighting can be moved easily

• The space is usually a fairly small, intimate one.

Floor Plans of five configurations for a

black box stage

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• Here you can clearly

see that all pieces of

this theatre can be

easily moved to

reconfigure the

space.

• The theatre itself is

fairly small

• This space also has a

neutral color scheme

and plenty of lighting

instruments hanging

above the entire

room, to enable

lighting of any desired

stage configuration.

A Set on a Black Box Stage

If you look carefully, you will notice that this set has two sections of

audience sitting across from each other. This is possible because this play

is being staged in a black box theatre.

How the Black Box Stage

Impacts the Viewing Experience • Depending on the way the stage is configured, a black

box theatre may provide a viewing experience similar to

the three other types of stages we have discussed.

• However, because a black box theatre is so versatile, it

can also provide the audience with a completely new

viewing experience because the relationship between

the stage and the audience may be different than

anything else the audience may have experienced.

• Regardless of the configuration, the small size of most

black box theatres means that the audience members

are usually very close to the stage.

• Black box theatres are ideal spaces for experimental

plays or avant-garde approaches to traditional plays.

Summation • The proscenium stage is

best for shows that need large, elaborate sets or many set changes, but performers will be farther away from the audience.

• Thrust, arena, and black box stages have limitations on the sets that can be used on them, but provide a very intimate theatrical experience because performers and audience are usually very close.

• There are four main types of stages that we should be familiar with: proscenium, thrust, arena and black box.

• Each type of stage provides a different viewing experience for its audiences

• Each type of stage has particular advantages and drawbacks to its use