Stage Left / Stage Right … Come on now, Get it Right!

Early drama was usually performed on a proscenium stage. That is, a stage that has a large arch (proscenium arch) that frames the front-most portion of the acting area.

Almost all the acting took place on the stage behind the area framed by the arch (this is the area with the various letter labels referenced below.) The shallow stage area in front of the arch is called the apron. The apron can also be used as an acting area.

The letter labels define general stage areas.

"C" is the “Center” of the stage.

"D" is "Down" stage, meaning closer to the audience.

"U" is "Up" stage, meaning closer to the back wall.

"R" and "L" are "stage right" and "stage left".

Stage right is the actor's right as the actor stands on the stage facing the audience. Stage left is the actor's left as the actor stands on the stage facing the audience. If the actor is facing up stage (toward the back wall), stage right and stage left are determined as if the actor were standing on the stage facing the audience. So the left side of the stage is always the left side. It doesn't change when the actor faces different directions. The right side of the stage is always the right side. It also doesn't change when the actor faces different directions.