What is the difference between a space and a theatre?
Space not originally intended for theatre use which is converted for productions. Theatre in which something is going on simultaneously in several playing areas. e.g. Different scenes playing in four corners of a room. A theatre space that is open, flexible and adaptable, usually without fixed seating or permanent stage area.
What is a theatre?
A theatre space that is open, flexible and adaptable, usually without fixed seating or permanent stage area. -This space can be turned into anything. Use of electronic media in live theatrical presentations.
What is a flexible theatre space?
e.g. Different scenes playing in four corners of a room. A theatre space that is open, flexible and adaptable, usually without fixed seating or permanent stage area. -This space can be turned into anything.
What is auditorium?
The ground floor seating in an auditorium. -Theatre space in which the audience sits on three sides of the stage. -It was first used by the Greeks for tragedies and comedies.
What is a found stage?
Found Stage A found stage is one of the simplest stages available. Also referred to as a found space or profile theater, found stages are non-theatrical areas that are converted into theater spaces. The beauty of found stages is that one can effectively create a theater in any context.
What are the 6 types of theatre spaces?
The most common types of stage arrangements are listed below.Proscenium stages. Proscenium stages have an architectural frame, known as the proscenium arch, although not always arched in shape. ... Thrust stages. ... Theatres in-the-round. ... Arena theatres. ... Black-box or studio theatres. ... Platform stages. ... Hippodromes. ... Open air theatres.More items...
What is a created or found space?
Created or found space. Space not originally intended for theatre use which is converted for productions.
What are the four types of theatres spaces?
Theatre performance spaces fall into four categories: proscenium theatres, thrust theatres, arena theatres, and found spaces. This section will introduce you to the common parts of each theatre and the relative benefits of each type.
What are the 5 categories of theatre?
5 Types of Theatre StageProscenium Arch Stage. The proscenium arch (or pros' arch) is a traditional type of stage setup that you'll recognise in theatres up and down the country. ... Thrust Stage. This setup is often achieved by building onto the front of a proscenium arch. ... In the Round. ... Traverse Stage. ... Cabaret Style Seating.
What is the most commonly used theatre space?
Proscenium Arch: The most common stage in purpose-built theatres, where the audience is placed on one side of the stage. Performers must be largely aware of facing the audience most of the time, who themselves act as Peeping Tom's peering through the (invisible) Fourth Wall.
What is the back wall of a stage called?
Also known as the BOX. Usually shortened to just cyc (pronounced sike). The Cyclorama is a curved plain cloth or plastered wall filling the rear of the stage or TV studio. Often used as a sky backing to a traditional set, or as the main backing for a dance piece etc.
What is the area that an actor is masked backstage before an entrance called?
Wings: Areas that are part of a stage deck but offstage (out of sight of the audience). The wings are typically masked with legs. The wing space is used for performers preparing to enter, storage of sets for scenery changes and as a stagehand work area. Wings also contain technical equipment, such as the fly system.
What is stage space?
Definition of stage space : the effect especially in painting of a view limited by a complete block after a very short distance — compare deep space.
What are the 7 theatrical forms?
What are the 7 types of theaterProscenium stages. Proscenium stages have an architectural frame, known as the proscenium arch, although not always arched in shape. …Thrust stages. …Theatres in-the-round. …Arena theatres. …Black-box or studio theatres. …Platform stages. …Hippodromes. …Open air theatres.
What is a black box set?
A black box theater is a simple performance space, typically a square room with black walls and a flat floor. The simplicity of the space allows it to be used to create a variety of configurations of stage and audience interaction. The black box is a relatively recent innovation in theatre.
What are the 3 basic elements of a play?
Elements Of Drama/Theatre. Elements of Drama: The elements of drama can be categorized into three major areas: literary elements, technical elements, and performance elements.
What is an informal theatre space?
Open-air and street performances are usually more informal and can also involve the audience. You can have staging but the actors may just choose to use the open space to interact with their audience. Open-air performances are particularly popular in spaces such as public parks and gardens, and castle grounds.
What are the 3 origins of theatre?
The theatre of ancient Greece consisted of three types of drama: tragedy, comedy, and the satyr play. The origins of theatre in ancient Greece, according to Aristotle (384–322 BCE), the first theoretician of theatre, are to be found in the festivals that honored Dionysus.
What is the most common type of stage?
proscenium stageThe most common form found in the West is the proscenium stage. In this type, the audience is located on one side of the stage with the remaining sides hidden and used by the performers and technicians.
Why is theatre space important?
So theatre space is a very important element of the design process. It can successfully create a mood (as witnessed by Le Théâtre du Soleil), but it must remain functional and comfortable. Directors and designers who do not acknowledge this are imprudent. An audience is prepared to undergo a transformation as it walks from foyer to auditorium, but there is little doubt that an audience will not put up with physical discomfort for too long. To justify pain by saying it was the common experience of the ancient Greek theatre-goer is perverse; it is probable that Greek audience members came fully prepared for a whole festive day at the theatre with cushions and blankets; besides which, audience etiquette, like that inherited by us from our Victorian ancestors, probably did not force the Greek audience to sit in reverential silence or stillness throughout the entire length of four plays. (7)
Why do theatre directors need to be in the most appropriate space?
Because theatre space dictates so much of the emotional and sensory impact on the spectator , directors seek the most appropriate space possible for each production. When considering a space a director must address a number of important issues, deciding, for example, if the audience and performers should be formally separated from each other and whether the spectators should be observers of or participants in the performance. The director must decide upon the number of entrance and exit locations to be used and whether the entrances will be the same for actors and audience. In addition, a director will engage with the emotional and psychological feel of the space and decide if it should feel open or confined, friendly or hostile.
What was the black box in the Oresteia?
The black box of the Cottesloe Theatre was kept in its regular traverse stage orientation, with seating blocks erected on raised platforms on both sides of the acting space and mounted by black (comfortable) chairs. The upstairs gallery surrounding and overlooking the stage consisted of padded benches and high chairs.
What is the stage format for a performance?
The apron stage format is one in which the audience sits on three sides of the acting area or part of the acting area. This type of organization was utilized by the Glasgow-based theatre babel’s five-hour triple bill, Greeks (DB ref. nos. 2510, 2524 and 2521), and by Katie Mitchell’s Phoenician Women. The thrust stage is an acting space located in the middle of the audience who are placed on two opposite sides of the theatre space, as used by Katie Mitchell in her National Theatre Oresteia.
How does the theatrical process come to life?
The theatrical process comes to life for the audience when they observe stage ‘pictures’, either in movement or in static formation; in other words, the audience witnesses either a series of frozen moments or a flowing sequence of movements which results in a constantly changing and developing significance to characterization and/or plot.
How big was the stage in Apollo?
The theatrical space consisted of a thrust stage measuring 9.9m x 12m, with seven main entrance/exits for the actors: one main entrance through the huge steel door at the far end of the acting space and six entrances dispersed around the audience seating-blocks. At the opposite end of the performance area from the great door was a high and narrow platform reached by a stepladder. A trapdoor in the stage covered with a metal drain cover served as the grave of Agamemnon. In the “ Eumenides ” section of the play, a section of the stage covering was removed to reveal an oblong pool of water. Behind this was a raised rostrum with steps on which stood the “statue” of Apollo. The acting space, seating blocks and surrounding curtains were coloured black. There were several set pieces: upstage left of door was a piano and piano stool. There was a long table (actually composed of two tables) which was unadorned in “The Home Guard” but surrounded with dining chairs in the opening half of “The Daughters of Darkness”. In Act II the same two tables were placed together to form a square. Ten chairs (which had first been set upstage, below the high platform, into neat rows and which had been used to seat the sleeping Furies) were placed around the edges.
How did the audience get to the terracotta army?
On their way into the performance area, the audience had to walk through an antechamber and along a path above what appeared to be (on first sight) an unfinished archaeological dig which was filled with recently unearthed life-sized terracotta human figures, resembling the famous Chinese terracotta army. The audience walked past this ‘archaeological site’ and entered the performance space from behind steeply raked seating-blocks; below the structure, the actors sat in little booths, fully visible to the audience, and applied their make-up and tied on their elaborate costumes. As they walked by, audience members were stopped by the performers who frequently engaged with them in some light conversation in a conscious effort to break the “us” and them” barriers of conventional Western theatre practice.
What is a theatre space?
A theatre space that is open, flexible and adaptable, usually without fixed seating or permanent stage area.
What is the stage called when the audience is surrounded by the audience?
Stage entirely surrounded by the audience; also known as theatre in the round.
Is space originally intended for theatre use which is converted for productions?
Space not originally intended for theatre use which is converted for productions.
What is the space above the stage called?
The space above the stage is known as the fly tower and grid . This is the area directly over the stage, which is at least one and a half times the height of the proscenium arch. Bars are used by all departments including set, lighting, sound and AV to rig elements such as lights, speakers and drapes.
What is a theatre?
Theatres are complex buildings, made up of many elements, which need to be planned carefully. Today there are many different types of theatre building but they will all contain some of the elements listed below.
What is the proscenium arch?
Many British theatres contain a proscenium arch which is the frame around the stage, dividing the auditorium from the backstage areas. It is also the name for the type of theatre that has this frame in it. A proscenium arch theatre is what many people think of as a traditional theatre space which developed from the Victorian trend of wanting to view a production through an ornate picture frame. It will contain two curtains, one of cloth which generally lowers from above the arch backstage to hide the set until the performance begins. This is known as the house curtain. A metal curtain known as the iron or safety curtain is a fire safety device used to separate the auditorium and stage in the event of a fire.
What is the curtain in the auditorium called?
This is known as the house curtain. A metal curtain known as the iron or safety curtain is a fire safety device used to separate the auditorium and stage in the event of a fire.
How do you enter an auditorium?
The audience enters the auditorium via corridors with doors known as vomitories. The auditorium (also known as the house) is where the audience sits to watch the performance. The seating may be at one or more levels depending on the size and type of theatre. The first level of seating directly in front of the stage, generally starting below stage level and slowly rising as it reaches the back of the auditorium, is known as the stalls. The rear of the stalls may be overhung by a balcony with further tiered seating commonly known as the dress circle or grand circle. This may curve round the sides of the auditorium to individual boxes close to the stage which generally fit between two and six people. These were originally built as private seating for the very rich as their occupants could be seen by everyone else in the auditorium. They are less used today as they don’t always have a good view of the stage. Some theatres will have further balconies and boxes above the first balcony, but rarely more than three balconies in total. The second balcony is known as the upper circle and the top level of seating is known as the gallery or the gods.
How many balconies are there in a theatre?
Some theatres will have further balconies and boxes above the first balcony, but rarely more than three balconies in total. The second balcony is known as the upper circle and the top level of seating is known as the gallery or the gods.
What is the stage in a proscenium?
The stage is the area where the performance takes place. In a proscenium arch theatre the stage usually projects in front of the arch itself. This area is known as the apron or forestage. Immediately in front of the stage, or sometimes partly underneath the apron, is the orchestra pit, a sunken area from which the orchestra plays.
What is a touring space?
A "touring" space isn't a kind of space at all, but if your show needs to tour - (e.g. to schools) that means it could be performed in anything from a giant proscenium auditorium to a densely packed classroom - it's a good idea to observe some common sense guidelines:
What is a black box theater?
A black box is a performance space that is exactly what it sounds like: a black-painted square or rectangle. A true black box - that is, one with no fixed seating - is the ultimate in flexibility, because the theater can configure the audience arrangement to match the staging needs of your play, rather than staging your play around the audience.
What is a small cast?
Small cast (anything larger than four is begging for trouble).
Is every theater space the same?
Not every theater space is the same, and it pays to be aware of the types of spaces in which your play might be produced. Often, plays work better in some spaces than others. Keeping in mind that many theater spaces are hybrids, here are the basics:
Do actors sit in front of the audience?
Effectively, the actors perform with the audience sitting in front of them. Either the stage is raised above the level of the audience (for example, in many high schools) or the seats in the "house" are raked (in other words, the farther away from the stage your seat is, the higher up you get).
Where are open air theaters located?
Open air theaters can come in many shapes and sizes, but must be located outdoors. They can include small platforms or flexible stages, more permanent proscenium stages, or thrust stages located in a local park, fairground or other event space. Lighting and other elements can be integrated into the stage configuration, or the stage could operate with natural light to offer a unique experience for theatergoers.
Where is the largest open air theater in the world?
The largest open air theater in the world is Regent’s Park Open Air Theater in London, England. The natural light, temperature and fresh outdoor air create a sensory experience that is unlike any other type of performance. An open air theater is an excellent choice for warm climates that can utilize the stage year-round.
How are the end stage and thrust stage similar?
The end stage and the thrust stage are very similar. Both are typically square or rectangular, but could be of varying shapes. While the end stage has the audience only on one side of the stage, the thrust stage features audience members on three sides of the stage. This is because the stage thrusts out past the proscenium and into the audience. The size of the thrust stage could encompass the entire stage or essentially a large extension of the forestage or apron.
What are the different types of stage?
You may be surprised at just how many types of stages there are. While most of these setups are designed for interiors, there are a few types of theater stages that are ideal for exterior settings. Generally, performance stages can be divided into a handful of categories. Let’s take a moment to define ten specific stages and theater types to help determine which would best fit your unique performance needs. The four main types of stages are: 1 Found stages 2 Proscenium stages 3 Thrust stages 4 Arena stages
What is the most recognizable stage in the world?
2. Proscenium Stage. Of all the different types of theater stages, the proscenium stage is perhaps the most readily recognizable. Though many may not know it by name, this stage’s iconic design immediately comes to mind when you envision a stage.
Why are black box theaters called black box theaters?
These spaces are referred to as black box theaters because the walls of the room are typically painted black. Whether or not the performers use the stage, they may opt to use few set pieces or props, instead engaging the audience’s imagination with their actions and speech. The flexible theater is ideal for spaces that don’t normally put on events or those that desire a budget-friendly temporary stage setup.
How deep are the proscenium stages?
Proscenium stages are usually deep from front to back. The back of the stage may be raked so the stage slightly inclines as it moves away from the audience. The front of the stage may also extend beyond the proscenium frame into the audience, creating what’s known as an apron or forestage.
