Research Blog Topics - Types of Theatrical Configurations & Ideas For Staging

Types of Theatrical Configurations:

• In a round - to perform in a circle
• Promenade - when your scenes are staged in different places throughout the play when performing it
• Traverse - when the audience is placed on either side of the stage (like a catwalk).
• Immersive - when you're acting within the audience 
• End on - when there is flat staging (e.g. the Obie Theatre)
• Thrust - when you have an apron of staging, this allows you to be end on but also in the audience

Ideas For Staging:

Chloe and I had the idea of using thrust as the theatrical configuration for the play. At the beginning of the performance, one actor/actress could lay on a bed placed right in centre stage in the character of James pretending to think. Then, the rest of the actors/actresses will come out of the audience one by one saying a line each from the first scene of the play. To create versatility and think outside of the box, the performers would be positioned in different locations within the audience. Once everyone has reached the stage, they could circle around James and walk around him still saying their lines one by one but at the same time. The noise they'll create together whilst repetitively saying their individual lines will eventually crescendo then will come to a halt when the actor/actress on the bed suddenly snaps out of their thoughts and zones in noticing their surroundings. Whilst the character is on the bed, there should be a red spotlight on them. I think the colour red would be good to use as red has connotations of danger.

Overall, thrust would be a great theatrical configuration to use as it allows you to not only be end on but also gives you the opportunity to move within the audience.