Stage Directions
Introduction
A script is more than just the lines of the play. There are also cues for entrances, exits, and more. This guide will review the types of stage directions and how theatre artists use them in rehearsal, design, and production.
Terminology
- Blocking: The movement and gestures used in staging.
- Characterization: The distinctive qualities of a character, including ways of speaking, behaviors, actions, and motivations.
- Setting: The time and place of the play. Stage directions can be very specific or very ambiguous about the setting.
- Stage Directions: Information in the play, included by the playwright, that identifies staging, characterization, blocking, or technical requirements for a script.
Context & Analysis
Stage directions are a way for playwrights to clarify the action and meaning of a play. There are several types of stage directions that writers use; this guide will go over the types and purposes of different stage directions.
Blocking & Characterization
One of the most common uses of stage directions is to describe a character’s movement, behavior, or other
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Cindi Calhoun
Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress