This enumerates the types of theater stages. A lesson under Humanities: Drama

1. By: Diana Ross Gamil

2. A proscenium it can be said that it’s a “window” that
frames the play taking place on the stage. This type of
stage, gives everyone in the audience a good view because
the performers need only focus on one direction rather
than continually moving around the stage to give a good
view from all sides.
A proscenium theatre arrangement also simplifies the
hiding and obscuring of objects from the audience’s view
(sets, performers not currently performing, and theatre
technology). Anything that is not meant to be seen is
simply placed outside the “window” created by the
proscenium arch, either in the wings or in the fly space
above the stage.

5. A thrust theatre stage is known by its arrangement
which consists of being surrounded by audience on
three sides. The Fourth side serves as the background.
Often the playing area is of square or rectangular
shape, usually raised and surrounded by raked seating.

8. An End stage is the same as the Thrust stage but
in this case the audience is located only on the front of
the stage and doesn’t extend around it. “Backstage” is
behind the background wall. There is no real wing
space to the sides, although there may be
entrances there. An example of a modern end is a
music hall, where the background walls surround the
playing space on three sides. Like a thrust stage,
scenery primarily background.

12. An Arena stage is characterized by a
central stage surrounded by audience
on all sides. The stage area is also often
raised to improve sightlines.

16. Sometimes called a “Black Box” theatre, these are
often big empty boxes painted black inside. Stage and
seating not fixed. Instead, each can be altered to suit
the needs of the play or the whim of the director.

19. These type of theatres are usually used in existing or
“found space” theatres, for example converted from the
original space usage.
The Audience is often placed on risers to either side of the
playing space, with little or no audience on either end of
the “stage”. Actors are staged in profile to the audience. It is
often the most workable option for long, narrow spaces.
Scenically, is most like the arena stage; some background
staging possible at ends, which are essentially sides. A non-
theatrical form of the profile stage is the basketball arena,
if no-one is seated behind the hoops.