SAP - Basics of Blocking & Stage Pictures (Lesson)

Basics of Blocking & Stage Pictures

“Blocking is not simply a pictorial process, or making a performance more beautiful through stage arrangements, but it is an inherent activation of the script to communicate through the body of the actor something deeper beyond the spoken words of dialogue.” SOURCE Links to an external site.

Blocking Defined

Blocking is the movement of the actors on stage, given to them by the director. It refers to both the movement around the stage using stage directions as well as the stage pictures.

Practical and Stylistic Blocking

Why is Blocking Useful?

It helps the audience better understand the story.
It helps the audience know where to focus when the performance is taking place.
Movement of a character sometimes reflects the character's motivation more than their words do.
It shows the relationship among characters.
It makes effective use of the set.

Stage Directions

You can refer to movement across the stage using stage directions. The following graphic is used for proscenium or thrust stages.

Fundamentals of Theatre Images (1).png

Writing Down Your Blocking

You want to be able to write in short hand for your blocking. Writing in complete sentences will slow you down in rehearsal.

Short Hand Rules:
USR = Upstage Right
USL = Upstage Left
DSR = Downstage Right
DSL = Downstage Left
DSC = Upstage Right
USC = Upstage Right
CS = Center Stage
SR = Stage Right
SL = Stage Left

--> Enter
<-- Exit

You would also give each character initials instead of writing their entire name.

Instead of writing "Sandy enters stage right and crosses center stage and sits in a chair," you could write "S $LaTeX: \rightarrow$ $\rightarrow$ SR X CS, sits."

Now you practice! Write in short hand "Natalie enters upstage right, skips to downstage left, and kneels next to Alice."

Stage Pictures Defined

Stage Picture is the term for the overall effect the composition of the actors on stage creates for the audience. Creating interesting and dynamic stage pictures is an essential function of a director because often they are “removed” from the action on stage, so they are able to observe it as an audience member would. Stage pictures also incorporate technical elements of a production including set, costumes, and lights.

Creating Strong Stage Pictures

Understand who has EMPHASIS in the scene- where do you want the audience’s attention to be focused? Why? Ensure that all the elements of the scene (actors and scenic elements) work towards making it clear for the audience who they should be looking at in a given moment.

Stage pictures are comprised of two major components: the composition, which is the arrangement of characters on the stage, and the picturization which is the inherent story based on the arrangement.

Stage pictures are created with levels and planes.

LEVELS: Creating visual variety through different heights on stage.
PLANES: Creating visual variety through different depths on stage.

Stage Picture Exercise

For this module, you are asked to serve both as a director for your open scene and as a performer in the scene. This is not a scenario that you are likely to be in outside of a theatre classroom, but it’s important that you try to be both roles for yourself. As an introduction to creating strong stage pictures, we’re going to look at some common problems that come up in scenes and you will be able to brainstorm solutions.

Gather some small toys (LEGO figures work really well for this exercise!) to represent your performers and a blank piece of paper where you label one long edge with the word AUDIENCE.

Body Positions

The following are common terms for referring to actor body positions and general movement on stage.

Full Front: The actor faces the audience.
¼ Positions: The actor stands one quarter right or left facing the audience.
Profile: The actor stands facing stage right or stage left so the audience only sees their profile.
¾ Positions: The actor stands three quarters right or left with the back to the audience.
Full Back: The actor standing with back to the audience.
Cheating Out: In conversation, the actor “cheats” to face the audience.
Blocking Notation: Shorthand actors use to write their blocking into their scripts.
Upstaging: Unnecessarily forcing attention to yourself rather than the intended focal point.
Mime/Pantomime: Acting without words.
Posture: How the character stands.
Gesture: Hand or head movements made by the actor.

Formations: Semi-Circles

Straight lines on a stage of people standing next to each other can get boring and doesn't lend to a good focus for the audience. A way to utilize the semi-circle is that you can put someone in the middle of the semi-circle and people surrounding them as they tell a story.

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