Types of Stages

All theatres have stages--but what kind of stage is it? This guide will present an overview of the types of stages used in Western theatre buildings and productions, whether proscenium, thrust, or in-the-round.

For a more in-depth discussion of different types of stages found around the world, see the Related Resources and Theatre History guides.

Terminology

• Arena Stage: Also called “in the round,” a type of stage that seats the audience on all sides of the playing space.
• Black Box: A type of theatre that usually seats less than 100 people. A black box theatre is often a flexible space and can be set up in multiple configurations.
• Flexible Stage: A type of playing space that can be arranged in many ways to create various environments.
• Fourth Wall: The imaginary wall between an audience and actors. To “break the fourth wall” means that actors acknowledge that the audience is there.
• Playing Space: The area in which the actors perform.
• Proscenium Stage: A type of stage that uses a proscenium arch to separate the audience from the actors and the playing space.
• Thrust Stage: A type of stage that extends or “thrusts” into the audience so that spectators are on at least two sides of the playing space.
• Traverse Stage: A type of stage in which the playing space is in between two audience sections that face each other.