Meaning & use
downstage in theatre
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Meaning
phrasefixed phrase
The area of a stage closest to the audience, or the direction toward the audience.
Grammar: Used as an adverbial or adjectival phrase: 'She walked downstage in theatre' or 'the downstage in theatre area'.
Patterns
- move downstage in theatre
- stand downstage in theatre
- the downstage in theatre position
In theatre, when an actor moves downstage, they get closer to the audience.
The director told the cast to stay downstage in theatre during the final scene.
Downstage in theatre is often the most visible part of the stage.
Common combinations
- move downstage
- The actor moved downstage to deliver her monologue.
- downstage area
- The downstage area was brightly lit.
- downstage left
- He exited downstage left.
Synonyms and how they differ
- upstage
- Upstage means the area farthest from the audience, the opposite of downstage.
- front of the stage
- A descriptive phrase, less technical than 'downstage'.
Opposites
Word family
- downstage adverb
- Toward or at the front of the stage.
- upstage adverb
- Toward or at the back of the stage.
Commonly confused: downstage in theatre or upstage?
downstage in theatre vs upstage
Upstage is the back of the stage, away from the audience; downstage is the front, near the audience.
Practice
In theatre, what does 'downstage' mean?
Choose one answer.
Downstage refers to the part of the stage nearest the audience. Upstage is the opposite, farthest from the audience. The other options describe other stage areas (backstage, fly space).
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “downstage in theatre”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.