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.
31 terms in Venues & Spaces
Amphitheatre
An open-air performance venue with tiered seating arranged in a curved or circular formation around a central stage area. Originating in ancient Greece and Rome, amphitheatres were designed so that the natural slope of the seating provided clear sightlines and, in the best examples, remarkable acoustics. Modern outdoor amphitheatres continue this tradition for concerts, plays, and community events.
Venues & SpacesApron
The section of the stage that extends beyond the proscenium arch toward the audience. The apron sits in front of the main curtain, making it useful for prologues, epilogues, and intimate moments performed while a set change happens behind the curtain. In some theatres, the apron can be extended over the orchestra pit to create a thrust-style playing area.
Venues & SpacesBalcony
The upper tier of seating in a theatre, located above the mezzanine or dress circle and farthest from the stage. Balcony seats are typically the least expensive in the house. Despite the distance, many theatregoers appreciate the balcony for its unobstructed overhead view of the full stage picture, particularly for visually spectacular productions.
Venues & SpacesBlack Box Theatre
A simple, flexible performance space—typically a rectangular room painted black—that can be configured in various seating arrangements (thrust, in-the-round, traverse, proscenium, or any combination). Black box theatres are prized for their versatility and intimacy, making them ideal for experimental work, new writing, and productions that benefit from close proximity between audience and performer.
Venues & SpacesBox Seats
Small, semi-private seating areas located on the sides of the auditorium, close to the stage and typically elevated above orchestra level. Boxes are a holdover from historical theatre design when they were reserved for royalty, aristocrats, and wealthy patrons. While they offer proximity and prestige, box seats often provide a limited or angled view of the stage.
Venues & SpacesBroadway
The highest level of commercial theatre in the United States, referring to the 41 professional theatres (with 500+ seats) located in the Theatre District of Midtown Manhattan, New York City. A "Broadway show" implies major professional production values, union actors, and significant financial investment. The Tony Awards recognize excellence in Broadway theatre annually.
Venues & SpacesCentre Stage
The middle of the performance area, equidistant from the wings and from the front and back of the stage. Centre stage is the strongest position on a proscenium stage—it naturally draws the audience's eye and commands attention. The expression "take centre stage" has entered everyday language to mean becoming the focus of attention in any situation.
Venues & SpacesCross
A stage movement where an actor walks from one area of the stage to another during a scene. Crosses are planned during blocking rehearsals and noted in the script with shorthand like "X DSL" (cross to downstage left). A well-motivated cross feels natural—the character moves because they need to, not because the director told them to. In stage notation, a cross is typically abbreviated as "X."
Venues & SpacesDark
When a theatre is "dark," it means no performance is scheduled that day or evening. Dark nights are common in weekly schedules (traditionally Monday) and allow the company to rest. A theatre that is "going dark" for an extended period has no productions scheduled, which can happen between shows or during financial difficulties.
Venues & SpacesDownstage
The area of the stage closest to the audience. The term originates from the era when stages were raked (tilted) toward the audience for better visibility, so actors literally walked "down" the slope when approaching the front. Stage directions use downstage, upstage, stage left, and stage right as standard positional references from the actor's perspective.
Venues & SpacesDress Circle
The first tier of seating above the stalls in a British theatre, equivalent to the American mezzanine. The name derives from the historical convention that patrons in these prominent, expensive seats were expected to dress formally. Dress circle seats combine elevation with proximity, offering an excellent view of both the stage and the orchestra pit.
Venues & SpacesEnd On
A staging configuration where the audience faces the stage from one end only—the most common arrangement, essentially a proscenium layout without necessarily having a proscenium arch. End-on staging provides a clear, cinematic framing of the action and is the default assumption for most scripts. The audience has a shared, unified perspective, which makes end-on staging ideal for realistic, picture-frame storytelling.
Venues & SpacesFound Space
A non-theatrical location repurposed as a performance venue—a warehouse, church, car park, pub backroom, abandoned building, or open field. Found spaces offer unique atmospheres and architectural character that purpose-built theatres cannot replicate. Performing in found spaces often challenges conventional audience-performer relationships and forces creative solutions for lighting, sound, seating, and staging.
Venues & SpacesFringe Theatre
Alternative, experimental, or independent theatre performed outside the mainstream commercial circuit. The term originated with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe (established 1947), where uninvited performers staged shows on the margins of the official Edinburgh International Festival. Fringe theatre is now a global phenomenon, often showcasing new writing, emerging artists, and unconventional work.
Venues & SpacesFront of House
Everything on the audience's side of the stage—the foyer, box office, auditorium, bars, cloakroom, and public areas. "Front of house" (FOH) also refers to the staff who manage these areas: ushers, box office attendants, bar staff, and the house manager. FOH operations ensure the audience has a smooth experience from arrival through departure. In lighting, "FOH" refers to lighting positions located in the auditorium rather than on stage.
Venues & SpacesGreen Room
A backstage room in a theatre where performers relax before, during, and after a show. The origin of the name is debated—theories include green-painted walls in early theatres, or the "green" referring to the stage (as in bowling green). Regardless of origin, the green room serves as a communal space and is a fixture of theatre buildings worldwide.
Venues & SpacesHouse
The seating area of a theatre where the audience sits, also called the auditorium. "The house" also refers to the audience themselves ("How's the house tonight?" means "How many people are in the audience?"). "House seats" are held back by management for VIPs or emergencies. "House lights" are the lights illuminating the audience area that dim when the show starts.
Venues & SpacesHouse Left and House Right
Directional terms describing areas of the theatre from the audience's perspective when facing the stage. House left is the audience's left, and house right is the audience's right. These are the opposite of stage left and stage right (which are from the actor's perspective). Front-of-house staff, ushers, and house managers use house left/right when directing patrons.
Venues & SpacesMezzanine
The first balcony level of seating in a theatre, located above and overhanging the rear portion of the orchestra (stalls). Front mezzanine seats are highly prized for offering an elevated, full-stage view while remaining close to the action. In British theatres, this level is typically called the "dress circle" or "royal circle."
Venues & SpacesProscenium
The architectural frame surrounding the stage opening in a traditional theatre, creating a "picture frame" through which the audience views the performance. Proscenium theatres (or "proscenium arch" theatres) are the most common Western theatre configuration. The proscenium establishes a clear separation between the world of the play and the audience.
Venues & SpacesRaked Stage
A stage floor that slopes upward from the front (audience side) to the back, improving sightlines for audiences seated at ground level. Raked stages were standard in European theatres from the Renaissance through the 19th century—this is why the area nearest the audience is called "downstage" (literally down the slope) and the area farthest away is "upstage." Some modern productions still use raked stages for dramatic visual effect.
Venues & SpacesStage Door
The backstage entrance to a theatre, used by performers, crew, and staff rather than the public. The stage door is where actors enter and exit the building, and where fans traditionally wait after performances hoping to meet the cast and get autographs or photos. A stage door keeper manages access and security. "Stage door" has become synonymous with the glamour and mystique of theatre life.
Venues & SpacesStage Left and Stage Right
Directional terms describing areas of the stage from the actor's perspective when facing the audience. Stage left is the actor's left (the audience's right), and stage right is the actor's right (the audience's left). These terms, along with upstage, downstage, and centre, form the standard vocabulary for describing positions and movements on stage.
Venues & SpacesStalls
The ground-floor seating area of a theatre, known as the "orchestra" in American theatres. The stalls are closest to the stage at floor level and typically offer the most direct view of the action. The term originates from the wooden partitions (stalls) that once separated individual seats in the front rows of English theatres.
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