TheatreVY_32_INOVACE_AJ3r0101

Jaroslava Dlabajová

PARTS OF A THEATRE

STAGE

STALLS ORCHESTRA PITAUDITORIUM

DRESS CIRCLE

UPPER CIRCLE

GALLERY

ROW

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:New_York_State_Theater_by_David_Shankbone.jpg

BOX

GALLERY/GODS

SPOTLIGHTS

Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Salle_Favart_proscenium.jpg

Parts of a theatre buildingComplete the text with missing words:

• Theatrical PERFORMANCES are mostly performed in a theatre building. The two main parts of a theatre building are a S _ _ _ _ _ and an A _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

Auditorium• The place in front of the stage,

where the orchestra sits and plays for an opera or a ballet is an

O _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ P _ _.• The seats on the ground floor are S _ _ _ _ _.• A line of seats side by side is a R _ _.

• The first row of seats above the ground level is called D _ _ _ _ C _ _ _ _ _ . • The second level of seats above the

ground is called the U _ _ _ _ C_ _ _ _ _. • The highest upper floor is called the

G _ _ _ _ _ or G _ _ _.

On both sides of the theatre there are B_ _ es, from which a small group of people can watch the play.

Check your answers:

Theatrical performances are mostly performed in a theatre building. The two main parts of a theatre building are a STAGE and an AUDITORIUM.

Auditorium• The place in front of the stage,

where the orchestra sits and plays for an opera or a ballet is an ORCHESTRA PIT. The seats on the ground floor are STALLS.• A line of seats side by side is a

ROW.

• The first level of seats above the ground is called DRESS CIRCLE. • The second level of seats above the

ground is called the UPPER CIRCLE. • The highest upper floor is called the

GALLERY or GODS.

•On both sides of the theatre there are BOXES, from which a small group of people can watch the play.

What do you think?

•Which theatre seats are better: stalls, dress circle, upper circle or gallery? •Why do you think so?

Sample answers:SEATS PROS CONS

STALLS CLOSE TO THE STAGEGOOD VIEW FROM FRONT SEATS

EXPENSIVE TICKETS, RESTRICTED VIEW FROM SOME BACK SEATS

DRESS CIRCLE YOU SEE THE WHOLE STAGE, MOST SEATS: CLEAR VIEW FROM SLIGHTLY ABOVE

NOT CLOSE TO THE STAGE, PARTIAL VIEW FROM THE SEATS CLOSEST TO THE STAGE

UPPER CIRCLE INEXPENSIVE STEEPER VIEW OF THE STAGE, YOU CAN´T SEE FACES VERY WELL, NOT ENOUGH LEGROOM

GALLERY (GODS)

CHEAPERGOOD FOR MUSIC

HIGH UP AND LONG DISTANCE FROM THE STAGE, PARTIAL VIEW FROM THE SIDE SEATS

THE STAGE

CURTAIN

SPOTLIGHTS

STAGE SET

WINGS

Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tibbits_Opera_House_Proscenium.JPG

MATCH THE WORDS TO THEIR DEFINITIONS:

• A PIECE OF CLOTH SEPARATING THE STAGE FROM AUDITORIUM THAT CAN BE MOVED UP OR DOWN

• THE SIDES OF THE STAGE WHERE AN ACTOR CANNOT BE SEEN BY THE AUDIENCE

• SOMETHING TO REPRESENT THE SCENE OF THE ACTION OF A PLAY (E.G. FURNITURE )

• A LAMP WHICH CAN SEND A SINGLE RAY OF BRIGHT LIGHT ONTO A SMALL AREA

•STAGE SET•SPOTLIGHT•CURTAIN•WING

WORDSEARCH – FIND 11 WORDSPEOPLE ON THE STAGE AND BEHIND THE SCENE

P K A R E N G I S E D E G A T S B R

L I G H T I N G T E C H N I C I A N

S E D T V U M D A W Y I U G F T H Y

M F Q U Z A T H G O P M C V Y T O L

E D S N B A L L E T D A N C E R B R

R K P A T K I M H Z A R T W C N U Q

J M A K E - U P A R T I S T O Z L J

T R B R V F E T N Y R S J U H A E M

O S K U P K T O D T U R S K B O N L

N P R O M P T E R P T A V E I L S V

C N L V O M O D I R E C T O R B S R

P B E P I N H T E C B D F Z L T Y I

D C O S T U M E D E S I G N E R C S

L N A I C I N H C E T D N U O S T A

CHECK THE WORDS YOU HAVE FOUNDPEOPLE ON THE STAGE AND BEHIND THE SCENE

R E N G I S E D E G A T S

L I G H T I N G T E C H N I C I A N

A T

G O

B A L L E T D A N C E R R

H

M A K E - U P A R T I S T

N S

D S

P R O M P T E R E

D I R E C T O R

T

C O S T U M E D E S I G N E R C

N A I C I N H C E T D N U O S A

CHECK YOUR ANSWERS:

STAGE DESIGNERLIGHTING TECHNICIANMAKE-UP ARTISTBALLET DANCERACTOR

SOUND TECHNICIANCOSTUME DESIGNER

STAGE HANDPROMPTERACTRESSDIRECTOR

Buying a ticket• We can buy tickets in person

direct from a box office or we can book them in advance by telephone or online via the internet.• Regular theatregoers make use of

subscriptions.

Some other words related to theatre

• people watching a play = audience

• place where you can leave your coat =cloakroom• person who shows people to

their seats = usher/usherette

PERFORMANCE (= the showing of the play)

the opening performance = first night• practicing a play before you perform it to

other people = rehearsal • (verb: rehearse)• the last, complete rehearsal in costumes

before the first performance = dress rehearsal

At the end of the performance

• the audience applauds/claps• the performers appear to bow and

receive applause from the audience (= curtain call)• the audience rises to their feet and

claps their hands = standing ovation

REPERTOIRE

• a list of plays that an actor/ company is able to perform• e.g. comedies, tragedies,

musicals, operas, ballets, pantomimes, puppet shows

Complete the text with suitable words:

When you arrive at the theatre you can leave your coat in a c_ _ _ _ r _ _ _. The u_ _ _ _ checks your ticket and shows you to your seat. After many r _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ the first n _ _ _ _ of a new produciton of A Midsummer Night´s Dream is on tonight. At the end of each p_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ the audience a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and the actors b_ _. There are usually several c_ _ _ _ _ _ c_ _ _ _.

Check your answers:

When you arrive at the theatre you can leave your coat in a cloak room. The usher checks your ticket and shows you to your seat. After many rehearsals the first night of a new production of A Midsummer Night´s Dream is on tonight.At the end of each performance the audience applauds and the actors bow. There are usually several curtain calls.

Speaking activity:• Describe your last visit to the theatre. What

was on?• What is the difference between watching a

play in a theatre and a film in the cinema? Which do you prefer and why?

• What is the difference between a dress rehearsal and the first night?

• Have you ever performed in a play?

Sources:

• www.office.microsoft.com http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Salle_Favart_proscenium.jpg

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:New_York_State_Theater_by_David_Shankbone.jpg

• http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tibbits_Opera_House_Proscenium.JPG

• Oxfordský studijní slovník, Oxford University Press, 2010