Theatre production and architecture

Types of stage

• Proscenium stage: the audience sits on one side and watches through a frame (the proscenium arch), like a picture. The imagined "fourth wall" separates actors from audience. Most auditoriums in India use it.
• Thrust stage: the stage juts out into the audience, which sits on three sides.
• Arena stage (theatre-in-the-round): the audience surrounds the acting area on all sides.
• Other spaces: open-air theatres and amphitheatres, black-box studios, and found spaces such as streets for street theatre.

Theatre in the Natya Shastra

Bharata describes three shapes of playhouse: vikrishta (rectangular), chaturasra (square) and tryasra (triangular), each in large, medium and small sizes. He recommends the medium-sized rectangular hall so that actors can be seen and heard clearly. The greenroom is called nepathya.

Stage areas

Directions are given from the actor's point of view facing the audience: stage right and stage left; upstage is away from the audience and downstage is towards it. The apron is the part of the stage in front of the proscenium arch. Wings are the side spaces hidden from view.

Elements of production

• Set design: creates the place and period, using flats, platforms, backdrops and properties (props).
• Lighting: makes actors visible, sets mood and time, and focuses attention. Spotlights light a small area; floodlights cover a wide area; coloured gels change colour; dimmers control brightness.
• Costume: shows character, status, period and mood.
• Make-up: base, highlight and shadow help features read from a distance; character make-up shows age or type.
• Sound: live or recorded music and effects that support atmosphere.
• Stage manager: runs rehearsals and performances, keeps the prompt book and gives cues.

Key points

• Proscenium: one side; thrust: three sides; arena: all sides.
• Natya Shastra: vikrishta, chaturasra, tryasra; medium rectangular preferred.
• Upstage = away from audience; stage right = actor's right.
• Stage manager keeps the prompt book.

Common mistakes

• Taking stage right as the audience's right.
• Confusing thrust (three sides) and arena (all sides).