downstage theatre

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   The front part of a stage, nearest the audience.

   Grammar: Used as a mass noun: 'The actor stood in downstage theatre.'

   Patterns

   • in downstage theatre
   • the downstage theatre area

   The comedian walked into downstage theatre to interact with the crowd.

   Downstage theatre is where the audience can see every facial expression.

2. 2nouncountable

   A type of theatre space where the stage is at floor level and very close to the audience.

   Grammar: Countable when referring to a venue: 'They performed at a downstage theatre.'

   Patterns

   • a downstage theatre
   • perform at a downstage theatre

   The new downstage theatre has no raised platform, so the actors are on the same level as the audience.

   We saw a play at a small downstage theatre in the city center.

Word forms

Common combinations

downstage theatre area

The downstage theatre area was reserved for the main action.

perform in downstage theatre

She loves to perform in downstage theatre because she can see the audience.

downstage theatre production

The downstage theatre production felt very intimate.

Synonyms and how they differ

thrust stage

A thrust stage extends into the audience, while downstage theatre is simply the front part of any stage.

arena stage

An arena stage has the audience on all sides, different from downstage theatre.

Opposites

Word family

downstage adverb

Toward the front of the stage.

upstage adverb

Toward the back of the stage.

Commonly confused: downstage theatre or upstage theatre?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “downstage theatre”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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