Traverse Theatre

Traverse Stage facts

1.The Traverse theatre can fit a lot of people.

2. It is a form of theatrical stage in which the audience is predominantly on two sides of the stage, facing towards each other. 

3. The stage is also commonly known as an alley or corridor stage. 

4. In some traverse stages, one end of the stage space may also end in audience

5. The ends of the stage are much larger than the traverse stage itself allowing for more space for actors, sets, and scenery


What is good about it

1. Greater projection of voice

2. Every action is visible to both sides of the audience

3. Intimate staging and allows the actors to use the audience for effect

4. Audience can see actors facial expressions clearer

5. Audience feel more involved 

6. Gets the audience more involved 


What people say about it 

Disadvantages for the audience:
---Once an actor walks past one part of the audience, the actor's back will be to the audience.
---It's not really convenient to place scenery on the stage. So, very minimal and small pieces of scenery can be placed on the stage.

Disadvantages for the actors:
---Very minimal and small pieces of scenery can be placed on the stage.
---Traverse stages are usually high off the ground. So, the front row audience might not be able to see very well.


Advantages for the audience:---Intimacy between the audience and actors.
---The audience can see the actor's entire body and hear the actors clearly.

Advantages for the actors:---Intimacy between the audience and actors.
---Scenery can be placed on the back wall.

How we use Traverse Staging

In my scene, me and my partner stand opposite sides of the stage. This will make the audience be constantly looking from one of us to the other. This is good because it gets the audience more intrigued, and they will be more concentrated to the scene. 

It is helpful for us as actors, because we have to concentrate more on facing the audience. I have to do this when I am directly addressing the audience. 

By using Traverse staging in our running part of the scene we can make it easier for the audience to see us as well as making it look a lot more interesting. 


Examples of Traverse Staging

1. fashion catwalk

2. 1991 The Derby Playhouse Community Theatre mounted a large scale production based on the events on Christmas Day in the trenches of World War 2 in 1914. The German and British armies (composed of a cast of hundreds) faced each other across the stage.