Ideas For Theatrical Configurations

Theatrical Configurations:

Proscenium stage - A stage where the audience sits on one side only is called a proscenium stage. The audience faces one side of the stage directly, and normally sits at a lower height.

In-the-round stage - An in-the-round stage is positioned at the centre of the audience and there is audience around the whole stage. This type of stage creates quite an intimate atmosphere, and is good for drama that needs audience involvement.

Traverse stage - A stage where the audience sits on two sides is called a traverse stage. Again, this type of stage is good for creating an intimate atmosphere.

Thrust - A theatre in which the stage is extended so that the audience surrounds it on three sides. The thrust stage may be backed by an enclosed proscenium stage, providing a place for background scenery, but audience views into the proscenium opening are usually limited.

Studio Theatre - A flexible theatre with one or more audience galleries on three or four sides of a rectangular room.

End Stage - A Thrust stage extended wall to wall, like a thrust stage with audience on just one side, i.e. the front. "Backstage" is behind the background wall. There is no real wingspace to the sides, although there may be entrances located there. An example of a modern end stage is a music hall, where the background walls surround the playing space on three sides.

Flexible Theatre - Sometimes called a "Black Box" theatre, these stages are often big empty boxes painted black inside. Stage and seating not fixed. Instead, each can be altered to suit the needs of the play or the whim of the director.

Profile Theatres - Often used in "found space" theatres, i.e. theatres made by converted from other spaces. The Audience is often placed on risers to either side of the playing space, with little or no audience on either end of the "stage". Actors are staged in profile to the audience.

I think that if I was directing the performance I would direct the performers to start of in the audience and during the performance they could emerge and become visible. The seating of the audience would be in a traverse or In-the-round-stage because the audience would be close. Also because as the play is almost like a stream of consciousness and a long monologue it would be as if he we were really talking to the audience and they were really there experiencing the trauma with him (James). It would be more effective and I think that the audience would be more effected this ways and really feel for the character.

Source 1

Blog reference

Author

Mick Alderson

Title

Theatre Spaces

Web Address

http://www.ia470.com/primer/theatres.htm

Date Found

29/11/13