Specialized Vocabulary (Theatre)

[shariperkins.livejournal.com]

Hello,

I am looking for specialized vocabulary for working in theatre. For instance, what are the equivilants to:

"upstage"
"downstage"
"stage right"
"stage left"
"cross"
"enter"
"exit"
"counter"
"line, please!"
"the flies"
"the turntable"
"the grid"
"table-work"
"onstage"
"offstage"
"strike that chair"
"spike that chair"
"step unit"
"level"

Those are terms just off the top of my head - is there anyone here who is involved in theatre who would like to discuss terminology with me?

Comments

[mooose.livejournal.com]

what about "blocking"? is there a Russian word for that?
i'm sure there must be, seeing as how the great method actors trained under the great Stanislavsky's techniques...

[pochitai.livejournal.com]

usher

[asurapuji.livejournal.com]

also, do russian actors have phrases like 'break a leg' or 'hals und bein bruck'?

[shariperkins.livejournal.com]

В чёрт!, I think?

[khathi.livejournal.com]

Nope. There's a general phrase (well, I believe "break a leg" is rather general too, am I right?) for that cases: "Ни пуха, ни пера", but it originated not in theater culture, like in English, but from hunters -- "[may you bring] neither fluff, nor feather". However it has stereotypical answer, and it's indeed "К чёрту!".

[shariperkins.livejournal.com]

Ahhh. While I was actually in Russia, I understood so little that I could hardly remember a word. I'm surprised I got one out of two (almost) correct. :-)

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

There is a Russian-English and English-Russian Theatre Terminology Dictionary (http://books.consultant.ru/book.asp?cod=174553&rp=25&up=1) (only $7!) but no online version found so far :(

[shariperkins.livejournal.com]

Hm, I may have to invest in that then. Thank you.

[asurapuji.livejournal.com]

may i ask what prompted this question? are you an actor or director studying in russia?

[shariperkins.livejournal.com]

I am a dramaturg (something like заф-лит in russian) about to finish an MFA. I enjoy working as an assistant-director. I spent a few months in Moscow last spring, and I loved the theatre culture. Therefore, I'm trying to get funding to return to Moscow next fall, If I get it, I will spend a year working and studying there.

[asurapuji.livejournal.com]

that sounds like a wonderful experience. good luck.

[shariperkins.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I have my fingers crossed.

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

Only it's завлит (abbreviation from заведующий литературной частью) :))

[shariperkins.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I am so very phonetic. :-)