Blocking (stage)

In theatre, blocking is the precise staging of actors in order to facilitate the performance of a play, ballet, film or opera. The term derives from the practice of 19th-century theatre directors such as Sir W. S. Gilbert who worked out the staging of a scene on a miniature stage using blocks to represent each of the actors. (Gilbert's practice is depicted in Mike Leigh's 1999 film Topsy-Turvy.)

In contemporary theatre, the director usually determines blocking during rehearsal, telling actors where they should move for the proper dramatic effect, ensure sight lines for the audience and work with the lighting design of the scene.

Each scene in a play is usually "blocked" as a unit, after which the director will move on to the next scene. The positioning of actors on stage in one scene will usually affect the possibilities for subsequent positioning unless the stage is cleared between scenes. During the blocking rehearsal, the assistant director, stage manager or both take notes about where actors are positioned and their movements on stage. It is especially important for the stage manager to note the actors' positions, as a director is not usually present for each performance, and it becomes the stage manager's job to ensure that actors follow the assigned blocking from night to night.

In film, the term is sometimes used to speak of the arrangement of actors in the frame. In this context, there is also a need to consider the movement of the camera as part of the blocking process (see Cinematography).

Stage directions

House left/right are from the audience's perspective

The stage itself has been given named areas to facilitate blocking.

• The rear of the stage is considered up-stage. This derives from the raked stage, where the stage sloped up away from the audience.
• The front of the stage (i.e. nearest the audience) is down-stage.
• Stage left and right, at least in British and North American theatre, refer to the actor's left and right facing the audience. Because this is sometimes misunderstood, the terms prompt (actor's or stage left) and bastard/opposite prompt (actor's or stage right) are also used. (See also Prompt corner)
• House left and house right refer to how the audience perceives the stage. The audience’s left is referred to as house left, and the audience’s right is referred to as house right. (These may also be called camera left and camera right for a filmed or sometimes unfilmed production or play.)

Non-English-speaking cultures

• In France, stage left is referred to as côté cour (court side). Stage right is referred to as côté jardin (garden side).
• In Germany, left and right on stage always refer to the point of view of the audience.

In popular culture

• The pink anthropomorphic Hanna-Barbera cartoon mountain lion, Snagglepuss, before dashing off (whether to escape or for some other reason), often exclaims one of his signature phrases: "Exit, stage left!" (or stage right, and sometimes even up or down).

• Exit Stage Left is a play conceived by Paul O'Farrell and Ben Smithard from Ecclesfield School, which played the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in summer 2012 chiefly using 2011 Ecclesfield School drama students.