Backstage & House

When it comes to theatre buildings, there is space for the audience, but there are also many places that the audience never sees. This guide will introduce you to the different locations within a theatre, their functions, and who has access to those locations.

Terminology

• Backstage: The area of the theatre not accessible or visible to the audience.
• Booth: Also called the “control room,” the space where technicians run lighting and sound cues. The stage manager may also call the show from the booth or in the wings, or “on deck.”
• Costume Shop: The backstage area where costumes are constructed, tailored, and sometimes stored.
• Dressing Room: The backstage area where actors get ready for the performance, including costume, makeup, and hair.
• Green Room: The backstage area where actors wait for their cues to go onstage.
• House: The area of the theatre in which the audience sits.
• Scene Shop: The backstage area where sets and props are constructed, often close to the playing space.
• Wings: The spaces immediately offstage of the playing space, sometimes referred to by technicians as “the deck.”