Technical Theatre Terms
ACT
1) Subdivision between sections of a play. A short play is a 'One-Act-er', a play with one interval has two Acts etc. Acts
are subdivided further into Scenes.
2) The thing Actors can do which makes them different from Techies (!!).
ACTING AREA
That area within the performance space within which the actor may move in full view of the audience. Also known as the
playing area
This term is also used to describe the smaller subdivisions of the main stage area which are lit separately by the lighting
designer (e.g. 'The stage is split into 6 acting areas, 3 downstage and 3 upstage').
ARENA
Form of stage where the audience are seated on at least two (normally three, or all four) sides of the whole acting area.
AUDITION
Process where the director or casting director of a production asks actors / actresses / performers to show him/her what
they can do. Sometimes very nerve-wracking, but auditions can be a fairly painless process if handled properly.
Performers are often asked to memorise a monologue from a play they like to perform for the director. Books full of
suggested monologues are available. You may be asked to do a 'Cold Reading' which tests your own response to a piece
of text you've not prepared. Some audition processes have pages of text available outside the audition room for actors to
familiarise themselves with before the audition.
BACKSTAGE
The part of the stage and theatre which is out of the sight of the audience. The service areas of the theatre, behind,
beside or underneath the stage. Also refers to the personnel who work in the technical departments that work to create
the performance, alongside the actors and musicians.
BLOCKING
The process of arranging moves to be made by the actors during the play, recorded by stage management in the prompt
script. Positions at the start of scenes are noted, as are all movements around the stage (using terms such as 'Gardener
X DSL' meaning the Gardener crosses to downstage left.) It must be described in minute detail, but simple enough to
enable anyone to read and understand it. As well as being used to 'run the show' the prompt book is also used for the
rehearsal of the understudies.
Stages which are not end-on must often use alternative notation, sometimes based on the clock face or the points of a
compass.
CAST
The members of the acting company. The Cast List contains the names of the actors and the characters they'll be
playing.
Dramatis Personae is a Latin term for a list of the characters in a play.
CASTING
The process of the director choosing actors to perform the characters in the play.
CENTRE CENTRE
(CENTER CENTER in the USA) - the position in the centre of the stage space. Downstage Centre (DSC) is the position at
the front of the stage, Upstage Centre (USC), and Centre Stage (CS) or CENTRE CENTRE is the centre. House Centre /
House Center is the centre line of the auditorium (which is usually the same as that of the stage).
COSTUMES
Clothes worn by the actors onstage. The responsibility of the WARDROBE DEPARTMENT.
CUE
1) The command given to technical departments to carry out a particular operation. E.g. Lighting Cue, Fly Cue or Sound
Cue. Normally given by stage management, but may be taken directly from the action (i.e. a Visual Cue).
2) Any signal (spoken line, action or count) that indicates another action should follow (i.e. the actors' cue to enter is when
the Maid says "I hear someone coming! Quick - Hide!")
CURTAIN CALL
At the end of a performance, the acknowledgement of applause by actors - the bows.
DIALOGUE
The spoken text of a play - conversations between characters is dialogue. See MONOLOGUE and DUOLOGUE.
DOWNSTAGE
1) The part of the stage nearest to the audience (the lowest part of a raked stage). [See Diagram]
2) A movement towards the audience (in a proscenium theatre).
DRESS REHEARSAL
A full rehearsal, with all technical and creative elements brought together. The performance as it will be 'on the night'.
German: hauptprobe (final rehearsal)
INTERVAL
Break between sections of a performance. During a play, the interval is normally half way through a standard length
performance (approx 1 hour each half) and is usually 15 or 20 minutes in duration. Known in the US as an
INTERMISSION.
For a full house, a 20 minute interval may be necessary. However, if there are no refreshments available, the interval can
be shorter.
A performance of less than 90 minutes in length could run straight through with no interval, although this wlil affect the
theatres' takings for the night.
OFFSTAGE
1) A movement towards the nearest side of the stage from the centre. (e.g. 'Focus that spot offstage a bit please')
2) The area out of sight of the audience (e.g. 'Get that donkey offstage !')
PROPS
(Properties) Furnishings, set dressings, and all items large and small which cannot be classified as scenery, electrics or
wardrobe. Props handled by actors are known as hand props, props which are kept in an actors costume are known as
PERSONAL PROPS.
STAGE LEFT / RIGHT
Left/ Right as seen from the Actor's point of view on stage. (ie Stage Left is the right side of the stage when looking from
the auditorium.)
Stage Right = OP (Opposite Prompt) French: Cote Jardin, Netherlands: Toneel Links (translates to Stage Left!)
Stage Left = PS (Prompt Side) French: Cote Cour, Netherlands: Toneel Rechts (translates to Stage Right!).
NB: The Netherlands, Portugal and Germany use the opposite to the rest of Europe; i.e. Stage Left UK = Stage Right. The
directions are seen from the director's and audience's perspective, NOT the actors. In Portugal Isquerda (left) is the
equivalent of UK Stage Right and Direita (right) is the equivalent of UK Stage Left.
UPSTAGE
1) The part of the stage furthest from the audience.
US = Upstage, USC = Upstage Centre. USL = Upstage Left. USR = Upstage Right (see diagram)
2) When an actor moves upstage of another and causes the victim to turn away from the audience s/he is 'upstaging'.
Also, an actor drawing attention to themselves away from the main action (by moving around, or over-reacting to onstage
events) is upstaging.
