What does flats mean in drama?

Answer 1

Flats if you are talking about stage drama are the left and right side of the stage. Normally hung with curtains which can swivel to facilitate access in to the wings. In the Flats are hung in such a way as to make the stage seem wide and close to the audience stage front and will hang closer in to the stage as you move to stage rear. This is the illusion of being faraway the further back the actor moves.

In Many stage drama the FLATS are solid and are part of the scenery i.e a door or wall - These move in to the sage for the scene and out again when the scene changes

Above these, across the stage (left to right) are the SKIRTS. These hide the lights. these also are hung in such a way as to make the "ceiling" of the look like its in perspective with the side(FLATS)

Above the skirts and lighting you have - The Flies. Named because stagehands would lower at high speed, scenery and curtains with background painted on them - then at the end of the scene they would lift them very quickly as the scene changed so they would FLY in the the roof space.