Presenting your drama
There are many things to consider when taking a piece of drama from page to stage, or performing a scene you鈥檝e devised yourself. Choices you make about the way to play the scene are called the interpretation. 鈥楽taging鈥 doesn鈥檛 just mean the set or stage itself; it鈥檚 everything you do onstage to bring the drama to life.
Relationship with the audience
While the relationships onstage between characters are important, so is the relationship and interactionThe way different elements work together to create an effect. between actors and audience. Even if your work is naturalisticA form of theatre designed to create the illusion of reality for an audience. Originated in the late 19th century. and the audience are observers of the action, their inclusion is fundamental to the success of your work. Without an audience there鈥檚 no theatre.
The fourth wall
The fourth wall is like an invisible screen between actors and audience. Imagine the stage as a box with one side open where the audience sit. Work where the audience are passiveThe opposite of active. Quiet and submissive. observers is said to keep the fourth wall intact. There鈥檚 no direct contact between actors and audience.
In work where the audience are directly addressed or clear eye contact is made between actors and audience, the fourth wall is broken. The audience are clearly included in the drama and are less removed from events onstage.
Your choice of whether or not to have a fourth wall in your work will influence the spatialRelating to space or how things are spread out. relationships between audience and actors and the type of stage you choose. Look at Using the Space to learn more about the different types of stages you can use.