Stage directions in plays

Category: Topics in the syllabus

What are stage directions?

Stage directions are instructions in the script of a play that tell actors how to enter, where to stand, when to move, also information about the lighting, scenery, props, and sound effects.
​

Stage directions give vital information for the action and relationships between people, things and places inside the play script. They also can be used to tell an actor how to shape his or her performance.​

Uses

The stage directions are used to describe: 
a) The setting

• ​(The morning sunlight fills the room) What a lovely day!

​

b) How the character feels

• (ROBIN HOOD is angry) Shut up!
• (surprised) I didn’t expect to see you here.
• ​(Perplexed) No.

​

c) How the character moves

• (ALICIA enters the room)
• (Enter ROBIN HOOD, armed with a sword)  Ah, but remember, faint hearts never won fair lady.
• (From the right, TOM CARPENTER, the Salesman, enters, carrying two boxes of chocolates cookies)
• ​​(MAID MARIAN covers her face with her hands) Oh my God!
• ​(Taking off her right shoe) I'm so tired. 
• ​(sits at the table at the left side of LYNDA) You know, he was doing his best.
• (Taking JULIET’s hand) Your hand is like a holy place that my hand is unworthy to visit. 
• (Exit,  pursued by a bear)

​

​d) How the character speaks

• ​(Laughing) What a fool!
• (In a creepy voice) I'll be wathcing you.​

e) How the actors/actresses move on stage

The cast are usually told where to go on stage by stage directions. The front of the stage, called downstage, is the end closest to the audience. The rear of the stage, called upstage, is behind the actor's back, furthest from the audience.
​

There are 9 main sections in stage:

They are often in abbreviated form. Here's what they mean:

• C: Center stage
• D: Downstage
• U: Upstage
• R: Right
• L: Left
• DR: Downstage right
• DL: Downstage left
• ​UR: Upstage right
• UL: Upstage left

Drama terms

Act: One of the main divisions of a play.
Antagonist: A character, situation, feeling, idea, or thing that opposes the main character.
Balcony: Area above the stage roof used for balcony scenes or for seating musicians or members of the audience.
Cast: The actors and actresses in a play. 
Characters: People who take part in the story. 
Chorus: The chorus was a single person who recited a prologue.
Dialogue: What the characters say in the play. 
Enter: Stage direction indicating the entrance onto the stage of a character or characters.
Exit: Stage direction indicating the departure of a character from the stage. 
Monologue: A long dramatic speech by a single actor.
Prologue: The introduction of a play.
Protagonist: The main character.
Scene:  The part of an act that takes place in one location.