thrust stage

A production of Godspell performed on a 3/4 thrust stage

In theater, a thrust stage (also known as a platform stage or open stage ^[1]) is one that extends into the audience on three sides and is connected to the backstage area by its up stage end. A thrust has the benefit of greater intimacy between performers and the audience than a proscenium, while retaining the utility of a backstage area. Entrances onto a thrust are most readily made from backstage, although some theatres provide for performers to enter through the audience using vomitory entrances. An arena, exposed on all sides to the audience, is without a backstage and relies entirely on entrances in the auditorium or from under the stage.

As with an arena, the audience in a thrust stage theatre may view the stage from three or more sides. If a performance employs the fourth wall, that imaginary wall must be maintained on multiple sides. Because the audience can view the performance from a variety of perspectives, it is usual for the blocking, props and scenery to receive thorough consideration to ensure that no perspective is blocked from view. A high backed chair, for instance, when placed stage right, could create a blind spot in the stage left action.

Many of the works of Shakespeare were first performed on the thrust stage of the Globe Theater and lend themselves to such a stage design in modern times as well.

Thrust stage theatres

North America

• The Courthouse Center for the Arts in West Kingston, Rhode Island (in its standard configuration)

Europe

India

• Prithvi Theatre, Mumbai

Faculty of performing arts m.s.university baroda.'play box'

External links

• Scenography - The Theatre Design Website Diagram and images of Thrust stage
• mapMystere.png Image of the Mystère stage by Cirque du Soleil in Treasure Island in Las Vegas, Nevada

References

1. ^ open stage - Britannica Online Encyclopedia