The ABC of Theatre Jargon

Theatre, like every profession, has adapted the English language to suit its own special needs. So, anyone wishing to work in theatre, do business with it or just understand its mysteries, needs some knowledge of theatrespeak. This glossary explains the common words and phrases that are used in normal conversation between actors, directors, designers, technicians and managers. All entries represent the author's own understanding of what the words mean and reflect his use of them. Although working in theatre for nearly fifty years and trying to teach the subject for nearly as long, Francis Reid has never undertaken any formal theatre studies. Consequently, it is quite probable that his personal vocabulary has acquired not just minor inaccuracies but major misconceptions. Furthermore, since theatre is a people industry, it is inevitable that some of the entries may be coloured by personal experiences and opinions.