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Theatre Arts for Advanced Secondary Schools

Exercise 3.1

1. Your class has streams A and B. Both streams have been invited to attend
the weekly class performance. Members from stream B seem confused
whenever the term performing space is mentioned. Provide hints that you
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will use to help them understand its meaning.
2. You are attending a form three stage play rehearsal as a guest speaker. Your
Theatre Arts teacher has requested you to explain to the students the reasons
to why the arena, proscenium and thrust stages are called the basic types.
3. Enlighten your classmates in your group discussion who are wondering
to why black box, found and mobile stages are categorised as other
types.

Proscenium stage

This is a performing space in which the audience sits looking at one direction.
The stage is usually located direct to the audiences’ sitting area. A proscenium
stage is also called a picture-frame stage because of four walls, which resemble
the frame of the picture. The stage is located at higher level than the audience’s
floor. In most cases, proscenium stages are covered by curtains which are usually
opened when performances begin and closed when performances end. Curtains
are also used in changing scenes. In Tanzania, proscenium stages are found at
the Bagamoyo Institute of Arts and Culture (TaSUBa), Chimwaga Hall at the
University of Dodoma, the National Museum theatre and Little Theatre in Dar es
Salaam. Figure 3.2 shows the image of proscenium stage of the National Museum
of Tanzania.

Figure 3. 2: A proscenium stage at the National Museum of Tanzania

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