“window” that frames the play taking place on the stage. This type of stage, gives everyone in the audience a good view because the performers need only focus on one direction rather than continually moving around the stage to give a good view from all sides. A proscenium theatre arrangement also simplifies the hiding and obscuring of objects from the audience’s view (sets, performers not currently performing, and – Thrust theatre stage: theatre technology). Anything that is not meant to be seen is simply placed outside A thrust theatre stage is known by its the “window” created by the proscenium arrangement which consists of being arch, either in the wings or in the fly space surrounded by audience on three sides. The above the stage. Fourth side serves as the background. Often the playing area is of square or rectangular shape, usually raised and surrounded by raked seating.
poscenium stage
Example: Theatre royal – Westminster,
London – 1674 – Sir Christopher Wren. Thrust stage
Example: Crucible Theatre –
Sheffield, South Yorkshire – 1971 – Arch. Renton Howard Wood associates end stage (almeida)
– End Stage: An Arena stage is characterized by a central
stage surrounded by audience on all sides. An End stage is the same as the Thrust stage The stage area is also often raised to but in this case the audience is located only improve sightlines. on the front of the stage and doesn’t extend around it. “Backstage” is behind the background wall. There is no real wing space to the sides, although there may be entrances there. An example of a modern end is a music hall, where the background walls surround the playing space on three sides. Like a thrust stage, scenery primarily background.
Example: Almeida theatre – Islington,
London – 1983/86′ – Arch. Burrell Foley Fischer
arena stage Example: Royal exchange theatre – Manchester – 1976 – Arch. Levitt Bernstein Associates
Flexible theatre:
Sometimes called a “Black Box” theatre,
these 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.
Example: Octagon theatre – Bolton – 1967
– Designed by Geoffrey H. Brooks (Bolton’s director of architecture)