Proscenium, Thrust or In-the-Round: One Piece, Three Audiences

The same short scene is performed with the audience set up three ways: proscenium, thrust (U-shape) and in-the-round. Students analyze how composition changes with where the audience looks from.

How to play

1. Groups of five prepare or revive a movement scene of about 45 seconds (6 min).
2. Proscenium: chairs in two rows and each group performs (6 min).
3. Thrust: the audience wraps three sides; groups get 2 minutes to adjust their facing before performing (8 min).
4. In-the-round: the audience circles the stage and groups adjust so nobody sees only backs (7 min).
5. Discussion: which setup helped each piece and what choices they'd make for their final piece (3 min).

Rules

• Two people carry each chair; no dragging.
• Leave a clear entry and exit aisle in every setup.
• The audience doesn't step into the taped stage area.

Variations

Adaptations

• Wheelchair users: the group saves them a front-row audience spot in every setup.
• Deaf or hard-of-hearing students: sit where they can best see the teacher's face during discussion.
• Injured students: run the set changes and the seating map.

Learning goals

• Learn the main audience setups.
• Adapt a composition to the audience's point of view.
• Make reasoned choices for the final piece.

Equipment for a class of 25

• chairs: 30
• masking tape: 1

Teacher tip

Tape all three setups before class so changes are quick; no chairs, the audience sits on the floor. In-the-round, everyone tends to face the same way.

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