STAGING REVISION

1. STAGING REVISION

3. Up Stage Right(USR) Up Stage Centre(USC) Up Stage Left(USL) Centre Stage Right(CSR) Centre Stage(CS) Centre Stage Left(CSL) Down Stage Right(DSR) Down Stage Centre(DSC) Down Stage Left(DSL) Audience

4. Complete the diagram of Areas of the Stage using both words (e.g. Down Stage Right) and letters (e.g. DSL) Up Stage Left(USL) Centre Stage Right(CSR) Down Stage Centre(DSC) Audience

5. Types of Staging • Proscenium Arch • End on (or Open stage) • Thrust • In the Round (or Arena stage) • Avenue (or Traverse) • Promenade

6. Types of Staging Proscenium arch

7. Proscenium and Apron

11. Thrust

12. Thrust

14. End On

15. Theatre in the round

18. Avenue or Traverse

20. Promenade Acting Area 2 Audience Audience Acting Area 3 Audience Audience Audience Acting Area 1

21. Thrust

22. Theatre in the round

23. Proscenium and Apron

24. Promenade Acting Area 2 Audience Audience Acting Area 3 Audience Audience Audience Acting Area 1

25. Avenue or Traverse

29. Proscenium Arch • The picture frame stage • Curtains • Creates an illusion of reality

30. In the round • Set changes need to be made in front of the audience • Intimate • Small number of actors • Needs scenery that does not obscure actors and the rest of the stage from parts of the audience. • Backdrops and curtains cannot be used, thus the director must find other ways to set the scene.

31. In the Round … • Lighting design is more difficult than for a Proscenium stage, since the actor must be lit from all sides without blinding nearby audience members. • Entrances and exits must be made either through the audience, making surprise entrances very difficult, or via closed-off walkways, which must be inconspicuous. As a result, stage entrances are normally in the corners of the theatre. • The actors need to ensure that they do not have their backs turned to any part of the audience for long periods of time, in order to be seen and heard clearly.

32. Avenue • Full set or backdrop on two sides • Good for productions showing a journey • Two distinct locations

33. Thrust • Set changes need to be made in front of the audience • Actors have to play to three sides • Huge cast

34. End On • Set changes need to be made in front of the audience • Huge set • Huge cast

35. Promenade • Audience walk from acting area to acting area • Audience might sit on the floor • Might be outdoors (e.g. Kirrie Kist)

36. Off stage (Wings) • Off stage is the area that is to the sides or rear of the stage. It is here that actors might change costume or change character, for instance. It can also represent another place, such as a different room in a house, so an unseen character might shout through to the characters on stage. • Some stage lighting might be sited here to light the stage in a particular way. Also in this area people who aren't performing might organise any set changes, props or sound effects

37. Split Stage • The stage area is split into two or more areas - and each area represents a different place or different time. • For example, a woman could be reading aloud the letter from her fiancée in the trenches telling her that things are not so bad, but the actuality of the situation is shown as his companion is shot and killed. The two scenes happen either together or separately to illustrate the truth of the war. • The use of levels on a stage also make the performance area look more interesting, and can be used in many ways. • Split staging can use two or more different levels, and the audience can see characters better if one group is behind the other

39. Test Yourself • http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/drama/performing/stagerev2.shtml