Understanding Theatre Language
A
AD
Can refer to Artistic Director or Assistant Director
Ad Lib
From Latin phrase 'Ad libitum' which translates to 'at one's pleasure'. For an Actor to speak and move in character without direction or following the script. Often used if a mistake is made and the actor improvises to get back to the script
Agent
Someone who acts on behalf of Performers to help find them work
Am Dram
Amateur dramatics, non-professional theatre
Apron
The front of the stage that juts out in front of the proscenium arch
Artistic Director
Someone who oversees the artistic programme of the theatre as well as managing funding, budgets and staff
ASM
Assistant Stage Manager
Audition
A type of interview for a Performer to showcase their talents and check their suitability for a role
B
Beginners
The call given to Actors five minutes before the start of the performance to ensure they are in position
Blocking
The instructions of where the Actors need to stand or move
Broadway
The American equivalent of the West End, located in Manhattan, New York. A central area for performances such as plays and musicals
C
Call times
The time in which you must arrive for your rehearsals or for the show
Cans
The communication system between departments, usually through a headset
Centre stage
The middle of the stage
Choreography
A sequence of steps and movements for staged dances and performances
Colour-blind casting
Casting an Actor for their ability over what their appearance is. Often used for characters where race, gender or ethnicity is not mentioned in the play
Conservatoire
A drama school or performing arts training institution with conservatoire status, meaning training is particularly intensive
CSM
Company Stage Manager
Cues
A trigger for an action to happen
Curtain call
The end of the show, usually when the actors take their bows
D
Dark
When a theatre is not currently being used for performances
Downstage
The front of the stage, nearest the auditorium
Drama school
A school which specialises in teaching about performance and theatre
Dress run
A rehearsal in costume where the full production is performed
DSM
Deputy Stage Manager
Duologue
A part of a play with speaking roles for only two Actors
E
Ed Fringe
Edinburgh Festival Fringe is the largest arts festival in the world. It takes place every August, with a large number of performances at different venues across the city.
End on
When the audience is on one side of the stage
Ensemble
A group of Actors who play background roles and appear in multiple scenes, can also be used to refer to an entire theatre company
Equity
A union for people working in the performing arts, including Actors
F
Flys
The rigging system made up of ropes and pulleys that enables Stage Crew to quickly move large pieces of scenery
Fourth wall
A metaphor for the invisible and imaginary 'wall' between the Actors on stage and the audience
Fringe theatre
Theatre that is experimental in style or subject matter. The term comes from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The Fringe are small-scale theatres often located above pubs, and are the equivalent of New York's Off-Off-Broadway Theatres and Europe's 'free theatre' groups
G
Get in
Fitting of the set in the theatre
Get out
Taking down and removing the set from the theatre
Going dark
Warning called when the lights are about to be turned off
H
Half
The call given to Actors half an hour before they are to be called to start the performance. This is given at 35 minutes before the start of the show
Headshot
Professional photograph of yourself which you hand out at auditions and to Agents
House
The auditorium
House lights
The lights in the auditorium
I
Improv
Short hand for improvisation where an Actor comes up with lines on the spot, unrehearsed
In the round
When the audience sit on every side of the stage
Iron
Safety curtain used to separate the stage from the audience in case of a fire
L
LX
The lighting department
M
Matinee
Afternoon performance of a show
Monologue
A speech by only one Actor
Multi-role
An Actor who plays more than one character in a play
N
NT Live
An initiative created by the National Theatre where they broadcast their productions live via satellite to cinemas and arts centres around the world
P
Press night
Launch night of a production which invites members of the press to review the production for their publication e.g The Stage
Preview
A set of performances for the public before its official opening. They are used by Directors to highlight any problems and correct them before opening/press night when critics review the production
Prompt
Someone who tells Actors their lines if they forget them, or the act of telling actors their lines if they have forgotten them
R
R&D
Research and development - often used to explore a new idea/concept
Repertory
A system of theatre where one group of Actors appear in multiple productions at the same time. Often shortened to just Rep
Revival
A re-staging of a production after its original run has closed
Rigging
A system of ropes and chains to support some sort of frames i.e. the set of a production or lighting
RSC
The Royal Shakespeare Company. A theatre company who perform the works of Shakespeare and Playwrights of today. Their main home is in Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare's birthplace.
S
Script
Text of a play
Shakespeare
William Shakespeare. English Poet, Playwright and Actor. Regarded as the greatest Playwright in the English language and the world's greatest Dramatist
Showcase
A performance for Performers to showcase their talent to industry professionals in a hope of gaining work and or an Agent
Sitzprobe
Used in musical theatre and opera - first rehearsal between the Singers and the Orchestra
SM
Stage Manager
SOLT
Society of London Theatre is the trade organisation representing West End theatres and other major London theatres
Spotlight
A casting notices website
Stage left
Left hand side of the stage in accordance to those on the stage facing the audience (if you are standing on the stage looking out to the auditorium, this will be on your left)
Stage right
Right hand side of the stage in accordance to those on the stage facing the audience (if you are standing on the stage looking out to the auditorium, this will be on your right)
Stagger-through
First run of the show in order of events
Strike
To remove the set from the stage
SX
Short hand for sound
T
Tech Run
A rehearsal to practice the technical elements of the performance
The Stage
The world's oldest and best theatre publication, offering theatre news from London's West End and across the UK, including news, jobs and interviews. Visit thestage.co.uk
Thrust
A type of staging which includes the stage extending past the proscenium arch into the auditorium. The thrust will have audience sit on three sides of the stage
Top and tail
Running through the play in sections where the cues need to be practised, such as a lighting or sound change. The Actors will only say the lines at the beginning and end of each section for the cues
Traverse
Type of staging where the audience sit on either side of the stage, facing each other
U
UK Theatre
UK's leading theatre and performing arts membership organisation. They promote excellence, professional development and campaign to improve resilience and increase audiences across the sector
Upstage
The back of the stage, nearest the backdrop
W
Wardrobe
A department within a production or theatre where all costumes and props are made, kept and maintained
West End
The main commercial and subsidised theatres in London, including its oldest and most prestigious venues. The British version of Broadway
Wings
The sides of the stage (offstage)
V
Verbatim
A form of documented theatre in which plays are constructed from the precise words spoken by people interviewed about a particular event or topic
Video Reel
Often referred to as a showreel, it is a short edited video which showcases an individual's previous work in video
Voice Reel
A short edited video which showcases an individual's previous voice work on video