Stagecraft, Production, and Performance
What is tested
This domain tests stage geography, production planning, technical theatre and performance discipline. You should know how a show is prepared, cued and run safely.
Core concepts
- Stage types include proscenium, thrust, arena and black box. In a proscenium, upstage is away from the audience and downstage is toward it. Stage left and right are from the performer's perspective facing the audience.
- Lighting includes general wash, specials, sidelight and cyclorama colour. Sound needs a line check, balance and backup. Set and props must be safe, visible and spike-marked.
- A run-of-show lists items, durations, performers and transitions. A cue sheet lists lighting, sound and scene cues. A stage manager calls cues and manages backstage traffic.
- Tech rehearsal tests cues; dress rehearsal tests costume, makeup, quick changes and full timing. Risk assessment covers flooring, cables, fire exits, lifting and audience safety.
Worked example
Plan a 90-minute showcase with 12 items. Build a running order that alternates solos and groups, allows two long breaks for costume changes, and keeps a 10-minute buffer. Cue lighting changes to the first musical phrase and mark props backstage. The reasoning is that timing, sightlines and backstage traffic are production problems, not performance surprises.
Traps
Do not leave costume changes too tight. Do not ignore sightlines or abrupt blackouts. Do not skip cue-to-cue or risk assessment. Do not forget music rights, credits and performer call times.