The nine stage positions
All nine positions on stage are from the perspective of the performer. When a performer is standing in the middle of the stage, their position is referred to as centre stage. As the performer looks out to the audience, the area on their right-hand side is called stage right and the area on the left is called stage left.
If a performer walks towards the front of the stage, approaching the audience, this area is referred to as downstage, and the opposite area of the stage further away from the audience is called upstage. The term downstage originates from when stages were sloped or Sloped at an upwards angle. downwards towards the audience to improve The view of the performers or audience..
The four corners of the stage space combine both the right and the left with downstage and upstage, creating:
- downstage right
- downstage left
- upstage right
- upstage left
Stage positions are used more commonly in some staging configurations than others, such as When the audience sit on one side of the stage only, facing it in the same direction., End-on staging on only one side of the stage, but in an older style theatre with a decorative arch framing the whole stage (called proscenium arch). and When the audience surround the stage on three sides, and the other side connects to the backstage area.. Sometimes it can be too complicated to use certain stage positions. For example, when using theatre When the audience are placed all around the outside of the performers' playing space. The stage area may be circular or square, with entrances and exits through the audience. or When the audience is placed on either side of the actors' playing space or stage, facing each other. This staging form is also called corridor. staging, there is not a back wall. This means it is impossible to have an upstage and downstage and stage right and stage left.