What is a Proscenium Arch Stage?
Whether you’re a drama student, an aspiring thespian or just a theatre fan, our guide to proscenium arch and end on staging will have you sounding like an expert in no time!
What is a Proscenium Arch?
A proscenium arch is a type of theatrical staging and auditorium layout, and is one of the most common types of theatre stages found in the UK and the US.
All of the seats face the same way, toward the stage, which is framed by, you guessed it, an arch! The arch frames the front of the stage, creating a sort of ‘window’ that the audience looks through to see the performance.
These arches are often made of very ornate and elaborate sculpted or painted plasterwork, as seen in the photo of the London Coliseum below. Think of it almost as a beautiful picture frame!
The stage in a proscenium theatre is surrounded on three sides. The back wall is used for set or backdrops, and the wings to the sides on stage left and right are used for storage of props and set pieces and as the actors’ entrances. The arch frames the front of the stage, with the audience directly in front. Sometimes, a small section of the stage will stick out beyond the ‘frame’ – this is known as an apron. The curtain is located behind the arch, which means that the arch will still be visible even when the curtain is lowered and the stage itself is obscured.
The seats in a proscenium arch theatre are generally configured side by side in a line, which can be either a straight line or on a curve, but they always face in the same way, directly toward the stage.
What is End On Staging?
Proscenium arch and end on staging share a lot of similarities. End-on staging is essentially the same as proscenium, but without the addition of the actual arch. The term ‘end on’ refers to the way the seats all sit on just one side of the stage, facing ‘head on’. While pretty much all proscenium arch theatres are staged end on, not all end on theatres have a proscenium arch! End on theatres usually have a square ‘frame’ around the front of the stage.
History of the Proscenium Arch
The term proscenium comes from the Ancient Greek “proskēnion” which means “before stage” or “space in front of the skene”. The layout of these proskēnion theatres was quite similar to a proscenium or end on stage – while there was no arch, as the theatres were in the open air, the audience would all face the same way toward the stage, and the action would be directed forward, with a back wall, or “skene”, often made of painted cloth or light wood, used as a decorative set back drop. In Ancient Rome, these “skenes” became increasingly elaborate and were built into permanent structures.
Proscenium arch theatres were incredibly popular in Renaissance Italy. The earliest surviving example of a true, permanent proscenium arch is in the Teatro Farnese in Parma, Italy. This arch was built in 1618 or 1619, but it’s believed that there may have been proscenium arch theatres, both permanent and temporary, similar to the form we know today in Italy as early as the 1500s.
Famed architect Inigo Jones is credited with bringing the proscenium arch over to Britain, along with moveable scenery. Jones was inspired by the stage machinery and auditoriums he had seen while travelling in France and Italy.
Actors and married couple Squire and Marie Bancroft are also credited with having advanced the use of the proscenium arch in the 1880s, when they refurbished the Theatre Royal Haymarket, installing a golden arch and removing the ‘pit’ – a standing area frequented by less wealthy patrons – to install Stalls seating more in line with modern theatres today!
The Proscenium Arch and the Fourth Wall
As it is enclosed on three sides, with the arch acting as a window or ‘frame’ for the audience to peer through, proscenium arch theatres are often considered to have a ‘fourth wall’.
The fourth wall is a concept in theatre, film and television. It refers to an imaginary, invisible wall at the front of the stage that the audience looks through to observe the play. While the audience can see the actors through this ‘wall’, the conceit is that the actors cannot see the audience through it, resulting in a more naturalistic performance. If an actor directly addresses the audience, this is known as “breaking the fourth wall”.
French philosopher, writer and critic Denis Diderot is often credited with inventing the concept in the 1700s. Diderot believed that by ignoring the audience, performers could better imitate reality.
Proscenium Arch Stage Pros and Cons
Proscenium arch and end-on theatres can offer unique challenges and benefits for both audience, actors and theatre makers.
Proscenium Arch Pros
- Generally great sightlines for the audience
- Easier to control lighting and sound
- Allows for more elaborate set designs
- The fourth wall can enable more naturalistic or realist performances
Proscenium Arch Cons
- Can feel less intimate than other configurations
- Limits audience interaction
- Restricted viewing angles for some seats at the extreme ends of the theatre
Where to Sit in a Proscenium Arch Theatre
As the stages in these types of theatres have a ‘frame’ around them, the best place to sit in a theatre with end-on staging or a proscenium arch is in the centre of the auditorium. If a theatre curves quite widely, seats towards the far end of either side can sometimes be restricted, as you will be looking across the stage at an angle.
This photo from His Majesty’s Theatre shows that the side of the stage where the customer was sitting was slightly obstructed due to the angle.
Examples of Proscenium Arch Theatres
Some of the most famous theatres in the West End and on Broadway have a proscenium arch. These include:
Examples of End on Theatres
These theatres have the end on staging, but no decorative arch:
Almeida Theatre, London
Minetta Lane Theatre, New York
Northern Stage, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Lyttelton Theatre at the National Theatre, London
Learn About Other Types of Theatre Auditoriums!
Now you know all about proscenium arches and end on theatres, why not check out our guides to other types of theatre stages and theatre auditoriums, including:
- Thrust Stages
- In-the-round Theatre
- and many more – including traverse and arena, in our full theatre stages guide!