ABSTRACT

The back of the stage area is called upstage and the front, nearest the audience, is downstage. These names come from the time when stages were raked, on a slight slope, from back to front. To upstage a scene partner means to position oneself above or further back from them so that they have to turn away from the audience in order to face you. This behaviour is considered selfish and unprofessional if you are doing it in order to focus all the attention on yourself. Some actors also upstage themselves unconsciously by turning away from the audience and may need to be reminded to allow themselves to be visible.