7 Basic Stage Terms for Improvisers

New to theatre? These terms will help.

People start doing improv to get out of their shell, become more comfortable with public speaking, or just to have fun. For many, it’s their first time getting onstage, so terms like “downstage” or “cheat out” may be completely new.

Here are a few common stage terms used to give instructions in theater and improv.

1. Onstage/Offstage

You can probably guess what these mean. Onstage describes something or someone that is… [drum roll]…on the stage! Offstage is off the stage.

2. Wings

The wings* are the areas right next to the stage. “Waiting in the wings” means that you’re just offstage, ready to walk on and join the scene.

*Not to confused with Paul McCartney’s post-Beatles band.

3. Upstage/ Downstage

This Theatre Dictionary by the Theatre Development Fund, explains it very simply: “‘Upstage’ means away from the audience, towards the back of the playing area. ‘Downstage’ means close to the audience, near the front of the playing area.”

To remember which way is downstage, use this brilliant mnemonic device, whose lyrical finesse rivals a Shakespearean sonnet: