Stage (theatre)
A designated space for performance and audience focus.
In theatre and performing arts, the stage (sometimes referred to as the deck in stagecraft) is a designated space for the performance of productions. It serves as a space for actors or performers and a focal point for the audience. As an architectural feature, the stage may consist of a platform or series of platforms, often permanent in theaters and other buildings devoted to such productions. The most common form in the West is the proscenium stage, also called a picture frame stage, which has been prevalent since the Italian Renaissance. Its defining feature is a large opening, the proscenium arch, through which the audience views the performance from one side only, facing a stage typically raised above the front row. This arrangement creates the concept of an invisible fourth wall. The proscenium arch evolved from the space in front of the ancient Greek *skênê* where actors performed. Early indoor theatres, built in French tennis courts and Italian Renaissance palaces, used perspective to create illusionistic vistas, with raked stage floors sloping upward to enhance the effect and improve actor visibility. By the late 19th century, most stages had level floors, with audiences often looking down on the performance. Competition among European royalty funded elaborate court theatres, where the decorative proscenium framed the scene. Court painters’ desire for multiple perspective backgrounds led to adapting ship rigging—pin-rails and pulleys—to raise and lower canvas backdrops. This evolved into a grid above the stage supporting wooden battens and later steel pipes, with heavy pieces counterbalanced by sandbags. A full-fly stage could store the entire height of scenery above the visible stage, while a half-fly stage had more limited storage. These manually operated rope systems, known as hemp houses, have largely been replaced by counterweight fly systems. The proscenium, along with side curtains called legs, conceals the wings—areas used by personnel and for storage. Short curtains called teasers hide backdrops stored in the fly loft. A stage may extend in front of the proscenium arch as an apron, with an orchestra pit sometimes located beneath it. The stage is often raised higher than the audience, and the space above may include a flyloft for curtains, scenery, and lighting battens. The proscenium stage’s advantages include the ability to use backdrops,
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- Theatre and performing arts
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- Designated performance space; types include proscenium, thrust, theatre in the round, and created/found stages
Lore & Background
The most common form found in the West is the proscenium stage, where the audience is located on one side of the stage with the remaining sides hidden and used by performers and technicians. Since the Italian Renaissance, the proscenium stage has been the most common in the West, featuring a large opening known as the proscenium arch through which the audience views the performance. The audience directly faces the stage, which is typically raised several feet above front row audience level, viewing only one side of the scene—the invisible fourth wall. The proscenium arch evolved from the proskenium in Ancient Greek theaters, which was the space in front of the skênê or backdrop where actors actually played.
Reader's Guide
The stage is a fundamental element of theatre, with several types varying by usage and audience relation. The proscenium stage offers advantages such as the use of backdrops, curtains, and lighting without risk of rigging being visible to the audience, and allows graceful entrances and exits. Thrust stages extend into the audience on three sides, providing greater intimacy while retaining a backstage area. Theatre in the round places the audience on all four sides, creating a feeling of intimacy and involvement but requiring special considerations for scenery, lighting, and entrances. Created and found stages may be constructed specifically for a performance or adapted from existing spaces. The proscenium stage's popularity in the West stems from its multiple advantages, including the ability to utilize theatrical properties and scenery effectively, and the concentration of actors on playing to the audience in one direction.
Did You Know?
- The stage is sometimes referred to as the deck in stagecraft.
- The proscenium arch evolved from the proskenium in Ancient Greek theaters.
- In theatre in the round, the audience is located on all four sides of the stage.
- Thrust stages may have vomitory entrances for performers to enter through the audience.
Founding & Institutional Identity
Named after its founder, the institution has spent more than a century cultivating talent in acting, musical theatre, and dance. Its core mission has remained consistent: providing structured, professional training for aspiring performers. The academy serves a wide age range, offering higher education programmes for students aged sixteen and above, as well as pre-vocational and Associate School courses for younger learners between the ages of three and eighteen. Over the decades, the school has maintained its position within the broader drama education landscape in the United Kingdom, holding membership in the Federation of Drama Schools (formerly known as Drama UK) and carrying accreditation from the Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre.
Academic Programmes & Accreditation
The academy's academic offerings have evolved considerably since its founding. A CertHE Intro to Acting programme, previously called the Foundation Acting Course, provides a year-long preparatory training for those aged eighteen and above. All of these programmes are validated by the University of East London and carry accreditation from the Federation of Drama Schools, ensuring they meet the standards expected of professional drama education in the country.
Physical Evolution & The Woking Consolidation
Throughout its history, the academy has occupied a remarkable succession of premises across London. The Avondale building in Clapham became a key site from 1960 onward, while the Italia Conti House on Goswell Road in Islington served as the academy's base from 1981. Additional locations included Landor Road in Clapham and the Italia Conti Arts Centre in Guildford, which housed musical theatre and dance teacher training courses.
The Juniors & School for Stars Legacy
One of the academy's most distinctive offerings was the Theatre Arts School, commonly known as the Juniors. This co-educational independent school served pupils aged ten to sixteen, combining an academic curriculum that led to formal qualifications with a broad range of performance skills. Accredited by the Independent Schools Council and monitored by the Independent Schools Inspectorate, the school first operated from the Avondale building in Clapham before relocating to Goswell House in the Barbican. A third series began in September 2013. The programme primarily showcased the Juniors' day-to-day activities and events, occasionally featuring students from the sixteen-plus courses as well.
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