Name of seats in the theater. Best seats in the theater

Choosing the best seats for a concert, theater production, musical or opera without knowing the hall in advance is not so easy, since the halls can vary quite a lot. But some general rules can still be formulated. First you need to imagine the layout of the hall. The hall has several zones that are clearly separated from each other. The maximum number of zones in the largest theater is five: , , , and .

Parterre

The area of ​​the auditorium closest to the stage is usually below its level. It is generally believed that front row tickets are the most expensive and best seats. But this is not always the case, since the most expensive seats are in the box. And the position below the stage is not always convenient, especially if the orchestra pit and the stage are separated. Moreover, if it is a classical music concert, where there is no need to observe what is happening in detail. But one-man performances and monologue performances are more convenient to watch from the stalls and the closer, the better in order to become an accomplice in the theatrical action.

Amphitheater

The spectator area is behind the stalls, separated from it by a passage. It can be located slightly above the ground and rise with ledges. Literally translated, an amphitheater is around a theater. Due to the fact that it is located at stage level and above, the viewer has excellent visibility and audibility, and, perhaps, it is universal in comfort, especially in the first rows. Ballets and performances with a large number of characters are best viewed away from the stage in order to be able to see all the action at the same time.

Mezzanine

Literally translated from French - a beautiful floor. In architecture, the second floor after the ground floor, on which the front, largest and most beautiful rooms were located. And this floor was truly decorated the best, it was the most beautiful. The mezzanine in a theater is a tier above the stalls, usually above the amphitheater.

Balcony

Tier above the mezzanine. As a rule, seats on the balcony and mezzanine are located at a sufficient distance from the stage, so they are more suitable for listening to operas, operettas and musicals (due to their elevation).

Lodges

Separate parts of the hall located on the sides of the stalls, behind it and on the tiers (at the mezzanine level). This is an individual room for several people with a separate entrance. Some even have a small hallway, an antechamber. Traditionally, the most expensive and most comfortable seats in the hall. They have the opportunity to be invisible to other viewers, and, on the contrary, to attract increased attention. They differ in tiers; the first, most prestigious tier, located at the level (or slightly above) of the stalls, is called benoir boxes (after the name of this lower tier of boxes). The lodges located above do not have a special name.

It wouldn’t hurt for every cultured person to know the names of the seats in the theatre, especially if he periodically attends theatrical performances. But not everyone can boast of such knowledge. Below we will analyze in detail all the places and how they differ from each other.

Hall layout

If you are one of the people who do not quite understand the names of seats in the theater, then the diagram of the hall will definitely help you clarify some points.
There are not many types of seats in the hall, these include:

• Parterre ("on the ground"). These places are located near the center. After the emergence of theaters, the stalls had mostly standing places, but now there are none left, and any stalls are equipped with a large number of seats.
• Balcony. The seats are located above the amphitheater at different levels. As before, these places are valued because... they offer a good view of the stage.
• Lodge. Located, like the balcony, on the upper tiers, located opposite the stage. The view is also very good, but ticket prices are higher.
• Gallery. Located on the balcony on the top tier. It does not have the most convenient location, and ticket prices are usually lower.
• Benoir. The boxes are located at stage level, on the sides of the stalls. Previously, spectators sitting in the benoir remained invisible to the rest of the people in the theater.
• Mezzanine. They are located above the benoir and amphitheater. These places are considered the most convenient, but their prices are very high, so not everyone can afford to buy a ticket there.
• Amphitheater. Located above the ground floor on both sides. The seats are arranged in tiers, making them more comfortable.

The theater seating diagram is shown below.

Choosing a seat in the theater

A diagram of the theater hall will help you choose a good place.

If you are planning to visit the theater and enjoy what is happening on stage, then you should take a responsible approach to choosing a place. In order to fully see the entire theatrical performance, and not look at what is happening on stage through the people sitting in front, and to get maximum pleasure from visiting the theater, we recommend choosing a seat on the balcony, dress circle or in the middle rows of the stalls opposite the stage. The listed places will not only have an excellent view of the stage, but also good acoustics.

The layout of the hall is quite simple and it won’t be too difficult to remember it, but it may come in handy in the future.

It would seem that everything is simple: a large room, rows of chairs, a stage, bright light. In fact, the auditorium is much more complicated, and we will try to tell you exactly how.

Scene

Modern theaters often use a box stage. It got its name because it is a space closed on three sides, with the fourth side facing the hall. The architectural arch connecting the stage and the auditorium is called a portal, and the space inside the “box” is called a mirror.

The stage area is usually divided as follows:

• proscenium - front part;
• stage - the main part;
• rear stage - back part.

Decorations are stored on the rear stage, stage mechanisms, lighting elements are placed, and so on.

A curtain

The purpose of this element does not need to be explained - it separates the stage from the auditorium. There are several types of theater curtains. The following types are distinguished: intermission-sliding, lift-and-fall, Italian, Austrian, Venetian, Roman, French, Brecht curtain, Wagner curtain, polychinelle, walk-through, folding and fireproof.

They differ from each other in texture, in appearance, in the way the scene is revealed, and in the nature of the movement.

Auditorium

The size of auditoriums cannot be selected based solely on the expected capacity. It is necessary to take into account many other parameters, in particular: the dimensions of the stage portal, air cubic capacity, the elevation angle of the audience seats and the viewing angle in the vertical plane.

The auditorium can have no more than three staggered tiers (this does not include balconies). If there is a wide aisle in front of the stage, then the number of rows should be distributed as follows:

• the group of seats closest to the stage - no more than 7 rows;
• the group of seats farthest from the stage is no more than 6 rows;
• other groups - no more than 5 rows.

It must be taken into account that the number of seats in groups with seven and five rows should be approximately the same. The farthest group of seats must necessarily have a connection with the exit behind it, and not just with the side exits.

Components of the auditorium:

• Parterre. On this lower floor of the hall there are seats for the public. Directly between the stalls and the stage there is an orchestra pit. Initially, there were not even seats in the stalls, since it was intended for the lower class. Today, on the contrary, the stalls are one of the most popular places in the auditorium.
• Orchestra pit. This is a small room in front of the stage, located below the main level of the hall. From the name it is clear that it serves to accommodate an orchestra. The length of the orchestra pit is usually equal to the length of the stage portal.
• Amphitheater. This is the name given to the main part of the auditorium, where the seats are arranged in tiers. Unlike the stalls, where all the seats are on the same level.
• Balcony. Depending on the size of the theater, there may be several tiers of balconies. In the past, the nobility lived here, but today, seats in this part of the hall may vary in price. The fact is that balconies farther from the stage lose both in terms of viewing convenience and sound quality. Cheap tickets are sold for seats in the upper tier.

RATKO specialists know everything about the design of auditoriums. These are high-level professionals who are ready to equip any room to the highest standard. Call us or ask questions through the online contact form.

Dear friends! You, of course, know that to work productively you need to be able to rest. Visiting the theater has long been considered one of the pleasant and cultural ways to relax. But behind the very first doors, in the lobby, we find ourselves in a world full of secrets and mysteries. In the literal sense of the word. We are overwhelmed by a stream of unfamiliar and often incomprehensible words: foyer, administrator, stalls, mezzanine... What to do? Where can I find the administrator? Where is it better to take a ticket: to the stalls or the mezzanine? Where can I find the lobby? Let's try to figure it out.

Start over. What is theater?

Theater(Greek Θέατρον - main meaning - a place for spectacles, then - spectacle, from θεάομαι - I look, I see) - a form of performing art.

Theater is a synthesis of all arts, it includes music, architecture, painting, cinema, photography, etc. The main means of expression is the actor, who through action, using various theatrical techniques and forms of existence, conveys to the viewer the essence of what is happening on stage.

In this case, the actor does not have to be a living person. This could be a doll or some object controlled by a person. Theater is considered the most powerful means of influencing people, because, seeing what is happening on stage, the viewer associates himself with one or another character. Through catharsis (purification through suffering), changes occur within him. The main theater workers: directors, actors, make-up artists, cloakroom attendants, lighting technicians, ticket takers, choreographers, artists, stage workers. But more about them a little later.

Having opened the first entrance doors, we find ourselves in the lobby.

I, m. A large room separating the entrance from the internal parts of the building, mainly. public In many theaters, the ticket office and the administrator's window are located in the lobby.

IN box office You can purchase a ticket for the current performance or for future theater performances. If the performance is cancelled, you can return your ticket here or find out when the canceled performance will be given. The administrator window is also located there.

Administrator– a member of the theater team, responsible for the organizational side and daily work of cashiers, ticket takers and other theater personnel, often also for providing free or discounted tickets for and during a specific performance; responsible for compliance with safety rules and regulations while spectators are in the theater. Having passed through the second doors, you find yourself in the theater foyer.

Neskl., Wed. A room in a theater (cinema, circus) for the audience to stay before the start of a performance, show, performance, as well as for the public to relax during intermission. From the ground floor foyer you can access the cloakroom.

– a room or specially designated space in the entrance lobby where spectators can leave outerwear, hats, umbrellas (etc.) for storage during the performance. If the theater building contains several floors, then the foyer will be present on each of them.

And now you enter the hall. In front of you is a stage and rows of chairs that “diverge” from it in rows and tiers. How to figure out where to go? On the one hand, the hall administrators will always help you. On the other hand, here are our tips: the rows of seats that are located closest to the stage are called the stalls, followed by the amphitheater, around them and slightly above are the boxes and mezzanine, above them there is a balcony in tiers.

Parterre(French arterre - on the ground) - the lower floor of the auditorium in a theater with seats for the public in the space from the stage or from the orchestra to the opposite wall or to the amphitheater. The ancestor of the stalls was the bench for senators in the theaters of Ancient Rome. In the 17th century, after the appearance of the tiered theater building, the stalls also changed, taking on a more modern look. The stalls were intended for the lower class, so for a long time there were no seats - the stalls spectators had to watch the performance while standing. Seating in the stalls appeared at the beginning of the 17th century in private indoor theaters in England. Then the seats were arranged as needed. Nowadays, seats are most often arranged in rows that rise from the stage to the amphitheater and are parallel to the edge of the stage. The seats are separated by passages to exit the stalls.

Amphitheater– these are seats for spectators behind the stalls, located in a towering semicircle.

Lodge- This is a separate room in the auditorium, in the form of a small internal balcony, intended for several spectators. The boxes, as a rule, are located on the sides and behind the stalls, on tiers, as well as on the sides of the proscenium or adjacent to the orchestra pit (such boxes are called “benouir”). Characterized by insufficient visibility of the stage; sometimes used for lighting equipment.

Mezzanine– seats in the auditorium, usually located in a semicircle or along a curved line, behind and above the stalls and amphitheater. Sometimes considered as the balcony of the first tier of the theater.

Balcony– these are seats for spectators, located above the stalls, in various tiers of the auditorium. Note: often in English-language literature the word “balcony” means a balcony of the first tier. You took your seat and froze in anticipation of the performance...

Definitions of the terms presented are taken from the websites.

A good theatergoer knows, an excellent one, from what point any performance will seem brilliant. We suggest you figure out which seats to choose when buying a theater ticket.

Modern acting often involves an unexpected arrangement of spectators and actors in space. However, most metropolitan venues prefer the traditional hall layout, where it is quite easy to choose the right place, following simple rules.

The most important thing for any performance, be it a classical opera, a Chekhov comedy or a plastic performance, is for the viewer to feel comfortable, to be able to see and hear everything. In each theater, the layout of the hall is divided into several zones. In the largest hall their number can reach five. This includes the stalls, amphitheater, mezzanine, balcony and box.

Parterre

The lower floor of the auditorium is located closest to the stage. When choosing seats in the stalls, you should pay attention that seats in the first row will cost more, but not all theaters will have a better view. In most cases, the audience has to watch the entire action with their heads up. In addition, extraneous backstage noise can be clearly heard from the first row.

If you are going to a classical production, for example, a ballet, give preference to the so-called “director's” - the eighth row. From here you will see an excellent picture, enclosed in a frame, which is commonly called the stage portal. However, please note that each theater has a "sound pit" located approximately between the fifth and tenth rows. Here the sound flies over the viewer.

Amphitheater

The area located immediately behind the stalls is called the amphitheater, and as a rule rises above the stalls with small ledges. In fact, the first rows of the amphitheater can be considered the most comfortable. Here the viewer gets an excellent overview, audibility and the opportunity to simultaneously see all the action.

Mezzanine and balcony

The mezzanine is located one tier above the stalls and the amphitheater. A balcony is everything that is located on the tiers above the mezzanine. From the first rows there is an excellent view of the stage, but you won’t be able to see the stage in detail. However, these places are ideal for listening to operas, operettas and musicals.

Lodge

Separate parts of the hall, which are located on tiers on the sides of the stalls, are called boxes. They are an individual room for several people with a separate entrance. Traditionally, representatives of high society were here, not only to watch the performance, but also to show themselves. Until now, these places remain the most expensive and most inconvenient, since the stage is not completely visible, and for the most part you have to watch the performance half-turned.

Blackbox

In modern theaters, a new hall layout is more common - a “blackbox” or a transforming hall. The director, based on his idea, can arrange the chairs in any way he likes. Often the first row is on the same level as the actors and the viewer finds himself in the space of the performance. In order not to lose visibility, take tickets in the center of the hall, for the good old “director’s” row.

Cover: Classic