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.
47 terms in Stagecraft & Technical
Backdrop
A large painted cloth or scenic element hung at the back of the stage to establish the setting or environment of a scene. Backdrops can depict anything from realistic landscapes to abstract patterns. They're typically made from canvas or muslin, suspended from a batten, and can be "flown in" (lowered from the fly loft) or "flown out" (raised out of sight) during scene changes. Multiple backdrops allow rapid location changes.
Stagecraft & TechnicalBackstage
The areas of a theatre not visible to the audience, including the wings, dressing rooms, green room, and technical areas. Backstage is where actors wait for entrances, quick costume changes happen, and stage management coordinates the show. Backstage etiquette—such as staying quiet during performances—is a fundamental part of theatre culture.
Stagecraft & TechnicalBarn Doors
Adjustable metal flaps attached to the front of a stage lighting instrument, used to shape and control the beam of light. Barn doors typically consist of four hinged leaves (top, bottom, left, right) that can be opened or closed to block portions of the light. They provide a simple, mechanical method of preventing light spill onto areas where it isn't wanted.
Stagecraft & TechnicalBatten
A long metal pipe suspended above the stage from which scenery, curtains, and lighting instruments are hung. Battens are part of the fly system and can be raised or lowered using ropes and counterweights. They are numbered from the front of the stage (nearest the audience) to the back, giving the crew a standard reference for positioning elements.
Stagecraft & TechnicalBlackout
The complete extinguishing of all stage lights, plunging the performance space into darkness. Blackouts are used to signal the end of a scene or act, create dramatic effect, or allow for set changes. A "blackout sketch" is a short comedic scene that ends with a sudden blackout on the punchline.
Stagecraft & TechnicalBlacks
The standard all-black clothing worn by stage management and backstage crew during performances to remain invisible in the wings and during scene changes. Also refers to the black drapes (curtains and masking) used to define the stage space and hide backstage areas. Wearing blacks is one of the first things new crew members learn—no white, no bright colours, no reflective materials that might catch the light and distract the audience.
Stagecraft & TechnicalBorders
Short horizontal curtains hung above the stage to mask the overhead technical equipment—lights, battens, and the fly system—from the audience's view. Borders work in combination with legs to frame the visible stage area. They're typically made from black fabric and are spaced at intervals from the front to the back of the stage.
Stagecraft & TechnicalControl Booth
An enclosed area, typically at the back of the auditorium, from which the stage manager calls cues and the lighting and sound operators run their equipment during a performance. The booth provides a clear view of the stage and houses communication systems connecting to backstage. In some theatres, the booth is a windowed room; in others, it's an open desk at the back of the house.
Stagecraft & TechnicalCounterweight System
The mechanical system used to fly scenery, curtains, and lighting bars above the stage. Steel counterweights (stored in a frame called an arbor) balance the weight of whatever is hung on the batten, allowing a single operator to raise and lower heavy scenic elements smoothly and safely. The counterweight system replaced the older hemp rope system and remains the standard fly system in most proscenium theatres.
Stagecraft & TechnicalCross Fade
A lighting or sound transition where one state fades out while another simultaneously fades in, creating a smooth, overlapping shift. In lighting, a cross fade might transition from a warm interior scene to a cool moonlit exterior. In sound, it might blend one piece of music into another. Cross fades avoid the abruptness of a snap change and can suggest the passage of time, a shift in mood, or a change of location.
Stagecraft & TechnicalCrossover
A backstage passageway that connects the two sides of the stage (stage left and stage right), allowing actors and crew to move from one wing to the other without being seen by the audience. In theatres without a dedicated crossover behind the back wall, performers may need to use corridors beneath or behind the stage, which can be a significant logistical challenge.
Stagecraft & TechnicalCue
A signal that triggers a specific action during a performance. Cues can be lines of dialogue, physical movements, musical phrases, or calls from the stage manager. Light cues trigger lighting changes, sound cues trigger audio effects, and actor cues signal entrances or specific actions. The stage manager "calls cues" from the prompt corner during performances.
Stagecraft & TechnicalCue Sheet
A detailed document listing every technical cue in a production—lighting changes, sound effects, set movements, special effects—in sequential order with their cue numbers, page references, and descriptions. The stage manager uses the cue sheet (in conjunction with the prompt book) to call the show during performances. Sound operators, lighting operators, and fly crew each have their own cue sheets for their specific departments.
Stagecraft & TechnicalCurtain Warmer
Stage lighting focused on the front curtain before a performance begins, giving the audience something visually warm to look at as they take their seats. Curtain warmers set mood and anticipation—warm amber tones suggest a classic feel, while cooler or more dramatic lighting hints at what's to come. They're turned off when the house lights dim for the start of the show.
Stagecraft & TechnicalCyclorama
A large, smooth, curved backdrop—usually white or light grey—stretched across the back of the stage, used to represent sky, open space, or abstract distance. Abbreviated as "cyc" (pronounced "sike"), it can be lit in any colour to create sunsets, night skies, storms, or vast empty spaces. A well-lit cyclorama is one of the most versatile and cost-effective tools in stage design.
Stagecraft & TechnicalDimmer
An electronic device that controls the intensity of stage lighting by regulating the electrical current flowing to a lighting instrument. Modern dimmers are controlled digitally from a lighting console, allowing precise control over hundreds of individual lights. The ability to dim lights—rather than simply switching them on and off—is fundamental to creating atmosphere, focus, and transitions on stage.
Stagecraft & TechnicalDry Tech
A technical rehearsal conducted without actors, allowing the lighting, sound, and stage crew to walk through all their cues and transitions independently. Dry techs let technicians practise the mechanics of the show—triggering cues, executing set changes, testing effects—before the complexity of actors moving through the space is added. This is followed by the "wet tech" with full company.
Stagecraft & TechnicalFade
A gradual increase or decrease in the intensity of stage lighting or volume of sound over a specified duration. A "fade up" brings lights or sound from nothing to the desired level; a "fade out" takes them down to nothing. The speed of a fade is measured in seconds (a "ten-count fade" takes ten seconds). Fades are one of the most fundamental tools for creating atmosphere and marking transitions.
Stagecraft & TechnicalFire Curtain
A fire-resistant barrier, usually made of steel or iron, that can be lowered between the stage and the auditorium in case of a fire to protect the audience from flames and smoke. Also called the "iron" or "safety curtain," it is required by fire regulations in most proscenium theatres. In many venues, the fire curtain is lowered visibly before each performance as a safety demonstration.
Stagecraft & TechnicalFlat
A lightweight scenic unit consisting of a wooden or metal frame covered with canvas, muslin, or thin plywood, used to create walls and surfaces on stage. Flats are a fundamental building block of theatrical scenery—they're quick to build, easy to paint, and can be combined to create rooms, corridors, and architectural features. "Hard flats" use rigid covering; "soft flats" use stretched fabric.
Stagecraft & TechnicalFly Gallery
An elevated platform or walkway on the side wall of a stage, above the stage floor, from which the fly operator controls the ropes and counterweights of the fly system. From the fly gallery, the operator can raise and lower scenery, curtains, and lighting bars on cue from the stage manager. In older theatres, the fly gallery might be accessed by narrow ladders or steep stairs—it's a working environment with its own culture and skills.
Stagecraft & TechnicalFly System
A mechanical system of ropes, pulleys, counterweights, and battens used to raise and lower scenery, lighting equipment, and curtains above the stage. The fly loft (or fly tower) is the tall space above the stage that accommodates flown elements. "Flying in" means lowering something from above; "flying out" means raising it. Fly operators work from a fly gallery on the side wall.
Stagecraft & TechnicalFoley
The creation of sound effects performed live during a theatrical production, as opposed to pre-recorded sounds played through speakers. Named after film sound pioneer Jack Foley, live foley in theatre involves operators creating sounds in real time—footsteps, door slams, rain, breaking glass—often in view of the audience. Productions like The 39 Steps and Curious Incident have made visible foley a celebrated theatrical device.
Stagecraft & TechnicalFollow Spot
A powerful, manually operated spotlight that follows a performer around the stage, keeping them illuminated as they move. Follow spots are especially common in musical theatre, where they highlight soloists during big numbers. The follow spot operator sits in a booth (usually at the back of the auditorium) and physically aims the light.
Stagecraft & Technical