Theatre TermsTheatre Terms

ApronApron

The part of the stage floor in front of The part of the stage floor in front of the curtain line the curtain line

BackdropBackdrop

A painted cloth that hangs at the A painted cloth that hangs at the back of the stage to represent back of the stage to represent

sceneryscenery

BackstageBackstage

All areas of a stage other than acting All areas of a stage other than acting areas that are out of sight of the areas that are out of sight of the audienceaudience

Includes greenroom, dressing rooms, Includes greenroom, dressing rooms, workshopsworkshops

BlockingBlocking

The movement and positioning of The movement and positioning of actors on stageactors on stage

CycloramaCyclorama

A neutral background, often made of A neutral background, often made of fabric, at the upstage limit of the fabric, at the upstage limit of the performing area, generally used to performing area, generally used to represent sky. represent sky.

Also known as a "cyc”Also known as a "cyc”

Fourth WallFourth Wall•The imaginary “wall” at the front of a proscenium stage through which the audience views the play

•Acceptance of the transparency of the wall is part of the suspension of disbelief which allows the audience to enjoy the fiction as if it were real events

•“breaking the 4th wall” is speaking directly to the audience or otherwise acknowledging that the audience exists

HouseHouse

The part of the theatre where the The part of the theatre where the audience sits. audience sits.

Improvise

To speak or act without a script

Open/Actor’s Cheat

To keep your face and the front of your body visible to the audience as much as possible

RakeRake

Performance space where the stage Performance space where the stage floor is slanted upward away from floor is slanted upward away from the audiencethe audience

Script

The text of a play

Sight LinesSight Lines

Imaginary lines of sight that Imaginary lines of sight that determine what is visible to the determine what is visible to the audience on stage and what is not. audience on stage and what is not.

SpikeSpike

To mark the floor of a rehearsal To mark the floor of a rehearsal space to indicate significance for set, space to indicate significance for set, prop or actor placementprop or actor placement

StrikeStrike

The removal of all set and props from The removal of all set and props from the stagethe stage

Stage Cross

To move from one place to another on stage

Triangles

A blocking technique that uses three diagonal lines in the stage composition to achieve affect and stage depth

Upstaging

When an actor steals the focus of a scene

Stealing someone else’s thunder

WingsWings

Areas to the right and left of the Areas to the right and left of the stagestage

Where props are organizedWhere props are organizedWhere the ASM’s sitWhere the ASM’s sitWhere the actors wait for their cueWhere the actors wait for their cue

Tableau(x)Tableau(x)

A frozen, living stage pictureA frozen, living stage picture

Pageant WagonPageant Wagon

Origins in medieval theatreOrigins in medieval theatreTraditionally a wagon that transports Traditionally a wagon that transports

set and props and converts to a stageset and props and converts to a stageA portable stageA portable stage

Place of PowerPlace of Power

The place on stage that is to be the The place on stage that is to be the centre of the audience’s attentioncentre of the audience’s attention

This spot holds all the “power” in the This spot holds all the “power” in the scenescene

Light PoolLight Pool

The light cast on an area of stageThe light cast on an area of stageUsually one pool for each acting areaUsually one pool for each acting area