Cennarium Backstage - Brasil Autumn 2016 | Page 29

Theatre Glossary: Learning the Right Theatre Words
By Fay Al-Janabi

Here are the basic and not-so-basic theater words every professional knows. Add these to your vocabulary and start enjoying more "dramatic" conversations!
today!

T
Tabs
Refers to the drapery that separates the audience and stage.

Techie
Slang for a member of the technical crew, e.g. sound or lighting.

Technical rehearsal
A rehearsal of a performance in which only technical elements are practiced, e.g. just sound or lighting.

Theatre
The venue where a performance takes place.

Theatre in the round
A theatre set up in which audiences are placed on all sides of the stage, rather than simply in front.

Thrust
A stage that extends into the audience so that they are seated on three sides.

Typecast
Occurs when an actor often plays just one type of character and usually becomes associated with that role.

U
Understudy
An actor who learns the role or script of another so that they are ready to substitute them in case of emergency.

Upstage
The part of the stage towards the back, furthest from the audience.

V
Verisimilitude
When something appears to be real or true.

W
Walkdown
Another term for a Curtain Call.

Wardrobe
Refers to both the costumes used by actors as well as those responsible for designing and dressing them.

Wardrobe mistress/master
The head of the costume department.

Wings
The backstage areas towards the left and right hand side, not visible to the audience.

Notice there are no glossary terms for letters J, K, N, Q, X, Y or Z...

Do you know any theatre-related words starting with any of these missing letters?

Tell us here and we will share it on the next Backstage edition!

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