Theatre Glossary
Whether you're stepping on stage for the first time or picking up a script to read, here's a guide to the terms you'll encounter in the world of theatre.
10 terms in Design
Box Set
A realistic stage setting consisting of three walls and sometimes a ceiling, creating the illusion of an interior room with the fourth wall removed so the audience can see in. Popularised during the rise of theatrical realism in the late 19th century, box sets helped establish the convention of the invisible fourth wall between performers and audience.
DesignCostume Design
The art of creating the clothing, accessories, wigs, and makeup worn by performers in a production. Costume designers research period styles, develop colour palettes that support the story, and create designs that allow for movement and quick changes. Costumes communicate character, status, mood, and time period to the audience at a glance.
DesignDressing Room
A backstage room where performers change into costumes, apply makeup, and prepare before going on stage. Dressing rooms range from shared communal spaces to private rooms for lead actors. Theatre tradition and etiquette govern dressing room culture—knocking before entering, keeping noise down during the show, and not touching others' belongings. The dressing room mirror surrounded by lightbulbs is an iconic image of theatre life.
DesignGreasepaint
A type of heavy, oil-based theatrical makeup traditionally used on stage, supplied in stick or palette form. Greasepaint provides the bold, visible coverage needed for performers to be read under intense stage lighting at distance. While modern water-based and HD makeups have replaced greasepaint for much work, the term remains synonymous with theatre itself—"the smell of the greasepaint" is shorthand for the magic of performing.
DesignLighting Design
The art of using light to support storytelling on stage, encompassing the selection, placement, colour, intensity, and movement of all lighting elements in a production. A lighting designer creates the visual atmosphere of every moment—time of day, season, mood, focus—working from the script and in close collaboration with the director and set designer. Lighting is often called the most magical of the design disciplines because it can transform a space instantly.
DesignProjection Design
The use of projected images, video, and digital content as a scenic and storytelling element in theatrical production. Projection designers create visual environments using projectors, LED screens, and mapping technology to display everything from realistic backgrounds to abstract imagery, live camera feeds, and animated effects. Once a novelty, projection design has become a standard discipline in modern theatre production.
DesignQuick Change
A rapid costume change that takes place during a performance, often in the wings or just offstage, typically in under a minute. Quick changes require carefully prepared costumes (with velcro, snaps, and strategic layering), dedicated dressers, and rehearsed choreography. Some productions feature dozens of quick changes per show. The most impressive ones happen so fast the audience barely notices the performer left the stage.
DesignSet Design
The art of creating the physical environment in which a play takes place. Set designers (or scenic designers) conceptualise, draft, and model the visual world of the production—from realistic room interiors to abstract sculptural spaces. They work closely with the director and other designers to ensure the set supports the storytelling, allows for effective blocking, and fits within the theatre space.
DesignSound Design
The art of creating the aural world of a theatrical production, encompassing sound effects, ambient atmosphere, music playback, microphone placement, and the overall sonic experience for the audience. Sound designers work with directors to shape how the audience hears the show—from thunder effects and birdsong to the reverb on an actor's voice. The discipline has grown enormously with digital technology and now has its own Tony Award category.
DesignWardrobe
The department responsible for maintaining, cleaning, repairing, and managing all costumes during a production's run. The wardrobe team ensures every costume is ready for each performance, handles quick changes backstage, makes repairs between shows, and launders garments. The term also refers to the physical space where costumes are stored and maintained. In long-running shows, wardrobe is a daily, essential operation.
Design