Stage Left (SL): the left-hand side of the stage, from the actors’ perspective.
Stage Right (SR): the right-hand side of the stage, from the actors’ perspective.
Downstage (DS): the area of the stage closest to the audience.
Upstage (US): the area of the stage furthest from the audience.
Centre Stage (CS): the centre of the stage.
Downstage Left (DSL)/Downstage Right (DSR): Combination of downstage with stage left and stage right respectively.
Upstage Left (USL)/Upstage Right (USR): Combination of upstage with stage left and stage right respectively.
Centre Stage Left (CSL)/Centre Stage Right (CSR): Combination of centre stage with stage left and stage right respectively.
Onstage: the portion of the stage that is visible to the audience.
Offstage: any area of the stage that is not visible to the audience — typically, any part of the theatre stage that is accessible to performers, but not the audience.
Proscenium Arch: the “frame” around the stage; at Spectrum Theatre, this is defined by where our curtains are.
Proscenium Line: the imaginary line that runs across the stage under the proscenium arch.
Apron: the section the stage before the proscenium line. Also known as a forestage.
Stage: the section of the stage after the proscenium line — but also used to refer to the performance area as a whole, including spaces such as the wings. The section of the stage that is visible to the audience and behind the proscenium line may also be known as the main stage area.
Wings: the areas of the main stage area located stage left and stage right that are not visible to the audience. At Spectrum Theatre, we do not have inbuilt wings, and they are created using a constructed set — for example, actors may enter from the wings through a door on the constructed set.