Downstage vs Upstage: What’s the Difference?

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Downstage vs upstage is one of the first pairs of terms that every actor, director, and stagehand learns. They sound backward to many newcomers, because “down” feels like it should mean the back. Once you know where the words come from, they make perfect sense.

What is the difference between downstage vs upstage?

Downstage is toward the audience, and upstage is away from the audience. Downstage is the front of the stage, and upstage is the back.

Directors use these terms in blocking, which is the planned movement of actors on stage. “Cross downstage” means move toward the audience, and “move upstage” means move toward the back.

What does downstage mean?

Downstage means the front part of the stage, nearest the audience. It can be used as a direction (“step downstage”), a description (“the downstage microphone”), or an area (“across the downstage”).

An actor at the very front edge, sometimes called the lip of the stage, is as close to the first row as possible. That position is often used for soliloquies and direct address.

What does upstage mean?

Upstage means the back part of the stage, farthest from the audience. Like downstage, it works as a direction, an adjective, or a noun.

Upstage areas are good for large group scenes, entrances through back doors, and set pieces such as staircases or platforms. The word also has a second life as a verb, covered below.

Why are they called upstage and downstage?

The names come from raked stages, which were tilted upward from the front row toward the back. Walking away from the audience meant climbing the slope, so it was literally going up.

Most modern stages are flat, but the language stuck. Theaters around the world still use upstage and downstage to describe distance from the audience.

What does it mean to upstage someone?

To upstage someone is to draw attention away from them. In the theater, it originally meant standing behind another actor so they had to turn away from the audience.

The meaning has widened to everyday life. A scene-stealing toddler can upstage the bride at a wedding, and a surprise announcement can upstage the main event. In older usage, upstage could also describe someone aloof or snobbish.

How do stage left and stage right fit in?

Stage left and stage right describe the sides of the stage from the performer’s point of view, while facing the audience. That means stage left appears on the audience’s right.

Combine the two sets of terms and you can describe any spot on stage. Many theaters divide the stage into nine areas, such as downstage left, center stage, and upstage right.

How can you remember downstage vs upstage?

Think of the old sloped stage. Three quick tricks help:

• Up is away. Upstage is up the slope, far from the audience.
• Down is near. Downstage is down the slope, close to the front row.
• Picture a ball. A ball placed on a raked stage rolls downstage toward the audience.

Common mistakes

• ✗ Walk upstage, toward the audience.
  ✓ Walk downstage, toward the audience.
• ✗ Upstage is the front row of the stage.
  ✓ Upstage is the back of the stage.
• ✗ Stage left is the audience’s left.
  ✓ Stage left is the performer’s left when facing the audience.
• ✗ The toddler downstaged the bride.
  ✓ The toddler upstaged the bride.
• ✗ Upstage only ever describes a place on stage.
  ✓ Upstage is also a verb meaning to steal attention.

FAQ

What is the difference between downstage and upstage?

Downstage is the part of the stage closest to the audience, while upstage is the part farthest from the audience, toward the back.

Why is it called upstage and downstage?

The terms come from raked stages, which sloped upward away from the audience, so moving toward the back meant going up the slope.

What does it mean to upstage someone?

To upstage someone is to draw attention away from them, originally by standing behind them so they must face away from the audience, and now by stealing the spotlight in any situation.

Is stage left the audience’s left?

No. Stage left is the performer’s left when facing the audience, so it appears on the audience’s right.

What is center stage?

Center stage is the middle of the stage, halfway between stage left and stage right and between upstage and downstage.

Conclusion

When it comes to downstage vs upstage, remember that downstage means toward the audience and upstage means away from them, a habit left over from sloped stages. Add stage left and stage right, and you can describe any spot on stage. Share this with someone who mixes these up!