======Anatomy of a Stage======
A page to explain stage directions and just where exatly we mean when we reference a section of the stage.
----
=====General Sections=====
{{ wiki:stage:generalareas.jpg |The three basic areas of a stage}}\\
===Backstage===
The area behind the [[wiki:glossary:general_terms#tab|tab]].\\
//(tab is shown in blue on the above diagram)//
===Stage===
The area where the actors perform, typically in front of the tab and before any of the audience.
===Audience===
The area(s) where the audiance will sit during a show.
=====Stage Left / Right=====
Stage directions are from the perspective of somebody **//on the stage//** looking at the audience.\\
//(Direction shown by the grey arrow below)//
{{ wiki:stage:stage_left_right.jpg |Stage Left and Stage Right}}
===Stage Left===
The left side of the stage from an actors point of view.\\
//(Shown in orange above)//
===Stage Right===
The right side of the stage from an actors point of view.\\
//(Shown in purple above)//
=====Audience Left / Right=====
These directions are from the perspective of somebody **//in the audience//** looking at the stage.\\
//(Direction shown by the grey arrow below)//
{{ wiki:stage:audience_left_right.jpg |Audience Left and Audience Right}}
===Audience Left===
The right side of the stage from an actors point of view.\\
//(Shown in orange above)//
===Audience Right===
The left side of the stage from an actors point of view.\\
//(Shown in purple above)//
=====Upstage / Downstage=====
{{wiki:stage:upstage_downstage_plan.jpg  |Upstage and Downstage}}
These directions are used to designate the front and back of the stage as well as movement between the two. The terms originally come from the use of [[wiki:glossary:general_terms#rake|raked stages]] where as you moved [[wiki:glossary:general_terms#upstage|upstage]] you would very literally be moving up the stage.
{{wiki:stage:upstage_downstage_side.jpg?500  |Side view of upstage and downstage on a raked stage}}
===Upstage===
This is the back of the stage from view of the audience. To move [[wiki:glossary:general_terms#upstage|upstage]] you would move towards the bold red line in the diagram above.\\
//(Shown in red above))//
===Downstage===
The front of the stage. To move something [[wiki:glossary:general_terms#downstage|downstage]] you would move it towards the bold blue line shown above.\\
//(Shown in blue above))//
=====Wings=====
The area behind [[wiki:glossary:general_terms#tab|tab]] to either side of the stage, frequently where entrances and exits are made by actors, can be used to store small bits of scenery if it doesn't obstruct walkways.\\
//(Shown in green below)//
{{ wiki:stage:wings.jpg |Stage wings}}
=====Centre Stage=====
The middle of the stage.\\
//(Shown in yellow below)//
{{ wiki:stage:centre_stage.jpg |Centre stage}}
=====Band Pit=====
The place where the band is. Typically in [[wiki:glossary:general_terms#the_annex|the Annex]] this replaces the [[wiki:glossary:general_terms#stage_right|stage right]] [[wiki:glossary:general_terms#wing|wing]] but this is not always the case.\\
//(Shown in light blue below)//
{{ wiki:stage:band_pit.jpg |Typical band pit location}}
=====Raise=====
A raised area of the stage usually formed by deck.\\
//(Shown in dark blue below)//\\
{{wiki:stage:raise.jpg?400  |A raised area of the stage}}