Understanding Stage Directions in Theater

Introduction

• First day at rehearsal, faced with a common issue: understanding stage directions.
• Example scenario: Director shouts "CROSS DOWNSTAGE LEFT!"
  • Confusion about terms like "cross" and "downstage."

Historical Context

• Middle Ages Stage Setup:
  • Stages were built on an angle relative to the audience.
  • Audience stood on a flat surface, making visibility difficult.
  • Raked Stage:
    • Stage design where the back is higher than the front.
    • Improved audience visibility.

Modern Application

• Rake in Modern Stages:
  • Now primarily used in seating, not stages.
  • Raked seating enhances audience comfort and view.

Stage Direction Terminology

• Downstage and Upstage:
  • Downstage: Closest to the audience (lower ground in raked stages).
  • Upstage: Farthest from the audience.
• Left and Right:
  • Stage left and right refer to the actor's perspective facing the audience.
• Nine Primary Stage Areas:
  • Combines downstage/upstage with left/right.
  • Center is simply "center."

Practical Application

• Example: Director asks to cross downstage left.
  • Move towards the audience (downstage) and to the actor's left.

Conclusion

• Stage direction terms are crucial for actors and technicians.
• With practice, these directions become intuitive.