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Stage Direction

The document defines common stage directions and locations used in theatre. It describes terms like downstage, which refers to the part of the stage closest to the audience, and upstage, which refers to the part farthest from the audience. It also defines locations from the perspective of both the actor on stage, such as stage right, and the audience member in the house, such as house left. Finally, it provides the meanings of other directional terms used to indicate vertical or horizontal positioning on the stage or in the theatre building.

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249 views

Stage Direction

The document defines common stage directions and locations used in theatre. It describes terms like downstage, which refers to the part of the stage closest to the audience, and upstage, which refers to the part farthest from the audience. It also defines locations from the perspective of both the actor on stage, such as stage right, and the audience member in the house, such as house left. Finally, it provides the meanings of other directional terms used to indicate vertical or horizontal positioning on the stage or in the theatre building.

Uploaded by

api-290875648
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Stage Directions

These are terms describing the locations and directions in a theatre building; many come from the descriptions of
stage action in the play text. They are most relevant to a proscenium theatre, but can apply to other theatre forms.

Upstage

Onstage Onstage
(opposite prompt)

(prompt side)
Offstage Offstage
Stage right

Stage left
Stage

Downstage

Auditorium

House left House right

downstage (DS)
(noun) the part of the stage nearest the audience
(adverb or adjective) toward or at the front part of the stage, nearest the audience
also downstage left (DSL), downstage right (DSR)

house left (HL)


(noun) the left side of the auditorium from the spectator’s viewpoint facing the stage
(adverb or adjective) toward or at the left side of the auditorium from the spectator’s viewpoint facing the stage
also front house left, rear house left

house right (HR)


(noun) the right side of the auditorium from the spectator’s viewpoint facing the stage
(adverb or adjective) toward or at the right side of the auditorium from the spectator’s viewpoint facing the stage
also front house right, rear house right

© Theatre Projects Consultants theatreprojects.com


in
(adverb) toward the stage floor, referring to vertical movement of scenery, etc.

opposite prompt, off prompt (OP)


(noun, adverb, or adjective) primarily British usage, has the same meaning as stage right
also opposite prompt side, off prompt side (OPS)

offstage
(adverb or adjective) away from the stage center; toward or at the part of the stage that is out of view of the
audience
also offstage left, offstage right

onstage
(adverb or adjective) toward the stage center; toward or in the part of the stage that is in view of the audience

out
(adverb) away from the stage floor and toward the gridiron, referring to vertical movement of scenery, etc.

prompt, prompt side (PS)


(noun, adverb, or adjective) primarily British usage, has the same meaning as stage left

stage right (SR)


(noun) the right side of the stage from the actor’s viewpoint facing the audience
(adverb or adjective) toward or at the right side of the stage from the actor’s viewpoint facing the audience

upstage (US)
(noun) the part of the stage farthest from the audience
(adverb or adjective) toward or at the rear part of the stage, farthest from the audience
also upstage left (USL), upstage right (USR)

© Theatre Projects Consultants theatreprojects.com

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