TOUCHSTONES 1 Types of stage Choosing which stage type they need is one of the first and most important decisions a director must make. Their choice will depend on a variety of factors, but it is vital that the stage type suits the needs of the production. There are many different types of stages – below are those that are most commonly used.
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A proscenium arch stage
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A three-sided stage
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A flexible stage
A theatre-in-the-round stage
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A theatre-in-the-round stage has a central performance area enclosed by the audience on all sides. The arrangement is rarely ‘round’; more usually the seating is in a square around the space where the actors perform. The actors enter this space via aisles and scenery is minimal and carefully positioned to ensure it does not get in the way of the audience’s view.
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A flexible stage is exactly as its name suggests. Stage and seating are not fixed. Instead, each can be altered to suit the needs of the play or the whim of the director. This type of stage is used to create a unique experience for the audience.
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A three-sided stage or thrust stage juts out into the audience, with the audience sitting on all three sides. Sometimes the thrust stage area is square but it can also be semi-circular. This type of stage is often used to increase intimacy between the actors and the audience. A proscenium arch stage is a stage framed by an arch, just as the name suggests. It is like a window that frames the action happening on stage. The stage reaches far back and sometimes is gently sloped, rising away from the front, to allow the audience to see the actors at the back of the stage. Sometimes the front of the stage extends past the proscenium arch into the audience area – this is known as the apron.
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