Why is thrust staging good

The proscenium arch at Sheffield Lyceum. Theatres in-the-round These have a central performance area enclosed by the audience on all sides. Arena theatres Arena theatres are large scale auditoria and have a central stage area with audiences on all sides, similar to theatres in-the-round. Black-box or studio theatres These are flexible performance spaces which when stripped to their basics are a single room painted black, the floor of the stage at the same level as the first audience row.

Platform stages These usually consist of a raised rectangular platform at one end of a room. Hippodromes Hippodromes are similar to circuses and have a central circular arena surrounded by concentric tiered seating. Open air theatres These are outdoor theatres that do not have a roof, although sometimes parts of the stage or audience seating will be covered. The auditorium of Rutland Open Air Theatre.

Site-specific theatre Site-specific theatre is usually performed in a non-traditional theatre space such as a pub, home or warehouse, often reflecting the history, atmosphere or experiences of a particular location. Promenade theatre This involves the audience moving from place to place following the actors and performance. Images: Ian Grundy, Theatres Trust. Previous What spaces make up a theatre?

Next How has the design of theatre buildings changed over time? Back to Theatre FAQs. The Fourth side serves as the background. Often the playing area is of square or rectangular shape, usually raised and surrounded by raked seating. Arena stage Pros: The audience feel included. Creates an intimate atmosphere. Cons: Sight lines might be an issue so there needs to be lots of movement around the space.

It was also used in the first London playhouses, including the Globe, which were built during Elizabethan times.

A thrust has the benefit of greater intimacy between performers and the audience than a proscenium, while retaining the utility of a backstage area. This enabled designers to include scenic effects such as large scale flying and larger structures in designs. This Hybrid Thrust-Proscenium has also been approached from the opposite direction with many traditional Proscenium Arch theatres building Aprons that thrust out into the auditorium.

Next Page — Theatre in the Round. The Gallery — Sutton Bonington. Theatre Design. Search Search for: Go. Greek Amphitheatre. Thrust Theatre Groundplan.