Stage Direction Terminologies

In order to recognise different parts of the stage in the right way, to make everything professional, we researched different names and terms used in the theatre, as this would create less confusion when practising the production.

Stage blocking- Blocking is a term used in theatre; this refers to the movement and positions of the actors on stage. In order to facilitate the performance, the director is usually in charge of determining blocking during a rehearsal. This is to insure that the actors know where they should move and stand for a more dramatic, theatrical effect, it also ensures sight lines for the audience and works with the lighting design of the scene. This always has to be perfect in a theatre scene, as it makes the performance more dramatical and realistic for the audience.

Sightlines- A sight line is a line of sight that is seen between a viewer and the scene; this is mostly used in stadiums or theatres, they allow the audience or spectators to see all areas of a venue stage. The recommended eye height is no lower 800mm above the stage.

 Stage directions- Stage directions are instructions set out for an actor or director, these instructions are written into the script of the play, they are important as without them, backstage crew and cast will not be able to know where they would need to be or what they would need to do.

Upstage- the term upstage is used when the attention is taken away from another performer, moving upstage, this makes the other performer face away from the audience, giving all the attention of the theatre to the performer that is set upstage.

 Downstage- the term downstage used to explain towards, at the front part of the stage, this is always found in stage directions as the cast would need to know where they would need to be.

 Stage right & stage left- Stage left is the term used for the left side of the stage where the actor stands and faces the audience, Stage right is the term used for the right side of the stage where the right side of the centre stage is facing the audience as well.

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Using these terms help us to recognize the main parts of the stage easily; they also help us understand the terminologies that writers, directors and actors/actresses use. 

It is important to know what they mean as its easier to recognize the parts of stage and easier for the actors and actresses to know where they are meant to be in stage whilst acting, learning them would help us create an easier plan for the production, in order to have everything run smoothly.