Art Central
Drama Dictionary
Why is the back of a stage called 'upstage'? What is a ghost light? Where does 'in the limelight' come from? Step backstage and learn more secret theatre words!
Did you know?
Long ago, many stages sloped, higher at the back. That's why the back is called 'upstage' and the front, nearest the audience, 'downstage'. 'Stage left' means the actor's left when facing the audience.
Before electric lights, theatres used limelight: a flame heated a block of lime (a white, chalky material) until it glowed brightly. It was first used indoors in a London theatre in 1837. Famous people are still 'in the limelight'!
When a theatre is empty at night, a single lamp called a 'ghost light' is left on the stage. It stops people tripping in the dark. Some theatre folk joke that it lets ghosts put on their own show!
Try this: Freeze-Frame Story
Gather three or four friends or family members. Choose a simple story, like 'The Thirsty Crow'. Make three frozen pictures with your bodies: the beginning, the middle and the end. Hold each pose for five seconds without moving or talking. Can your audience guess the story? Actors call these frozen pictures tableaux (say 'tab-loh').
Go further: India's Ancient Theatre
Koodiyattam from Kerala is the only surviving art form that keeps alive the drama of ancient Sanskrit theatre. It began more than 2,000 years ago. Traditionally, it is performed in special temple theatres called koothambalams. One performance can be spread over several nights, lasting from 12 to as many as 150 hours! UNESCO has honoured Koodiyattam as a masterpiece of the world's oral and intangible heritage, which means traditions passed on by people rather than objects.