the ins & outs of stage

On Stage is any position on the stage within the acting area, being seen by the audience.

Off Stage is any position out of sight of the audience.

The Wings are an offstage space, located at each side of the stage. Common to Proscenium Arch theatres, and modern theatres, they can not be seen by the audience. Usually blocked off by tall hanging curtains or fixed structures known as Legs, the wings are a place where actors can wait to enter the stage without being seen by the audience, hence the phrase "waiting in the wings." Often, movable sets and props are also kept in the wings.

The Line of Sight is the point where a person sitting in the audience can see off stage into the wings. Usually, the line of sight is enhanced by audience members on the extreme left and right of the seating, being able to look diagonally into the opposite wing. Actors off stage must be very aware of this and must make sure that they can not be seen whilst in the wings.

The Cyclorama or "cyc" (pronounced syke) is a plain curved stretched cloth that frames the very back of the stage. Although, it is common for any light coloured cloth curved or flat at the back of the stage to be referred to as a "cyc". The cyclorama is usually white and can have projected images on it or different lighting to create different scenes.

The Back Cloth is a large piece of material, hung from above, in front of the Cyclorama, at the very back of the stage. It can be used to form a background to the stage and is usually black. This is sometimes called the full stage black. Similarly, a black curtain hung in the centre of the stage is called a half stage black.

Some of the older theatres have a Trap Door. This is a small opening near or in the centre of the stage that leads underneath it. Sometimes the trap door can be used for stunts or magic illusions, or an alternative to entering the stage via the wings.