Thrust Stage

1
Thrust Stage
Tech. Theatre

• Aaron Karim,
• Dan Heisey,
• Sean Hammond

2
What is the Format?

• Stage Surrounded on Three Sides by the Audience
  (Seating)

3
Architecture definition

• A stage that extends into the audience's portion
  of a theater beyond the usual location of the
  proscenium and often has seats facing it on three
  sides.
• Source
• http//www.answers.com/topic/thrust-stage

4
History

• Started in Ancient Greece (Theatre of Dionysus)
• Adopted by Romans who spread the across Europe.
• Sir Tyrone Guthrie Responsible for the modern
  thrust stage (Canadian Shakespeare Festival 1953
  and Guthrie Theatre 1963)

5
disadvantage

• One disadvantage of the semi-circular auditorium
  design was the difficulty in achieving an even
  dispersion of high quality amplified sound.
  (Feedback and Volume)
• Not able to create a setting by using a backdrop.
  Must all be visualized by props.
• Source
• http//www.gtaust.com/articles/051003_uni_wa.shtml

6
advantage

• A thrust has the advantage of greater intimacy
  between audience and performer than a proscenium,
  while retaining the utility of a backstage area.
• Less focus on the backdrop of a setting and more
  focus on the actors/actresses ability to create a
  setting using gestures, use of props, and voice.
  
• Source
• http//www.123exp-art.com/t/04224187178/

7
Thrust Theatre Examples