What does raked seating mean?



What is raked seating in theatre?

Raked seating (also referred to as retractable seating, telescopic, bleacher or stepped seating) is simply when the seating is on an upwards slope away from the stage, in order to give those at the back a better view than if the seats were all of the same levels.

What are the advantages of raked seating?

Tiered seating creates superior sightlines allowing viewing from all areas of the venue and creates a better experience for the spectator making them more likely to return. Great Space Saver – having seating that is tiered allows many more seats and a greater number of spectators to sit and view in a smaller location.

What does it mean for a stage floor to be raked?





Raked seating refers to seating which is positioned on an upwards slope away from the stage, in order to give those in the audience at the back a better view than if the seats were all on the same level.

Where does the term raked stage come from?

English theatre stages in the Middle Ages and early Modern era typically sloped upwards away from the audience . This is known as a “rake” or “raked stage” and improves the view for the audience.

Who invented raked stage?

scaenae frons

scaenae frons, he introduced a raked platform, slanted upward toward the rear, on which the perspective setting of a street was made up of painted canvases and three-dimensional houses. Since the perspective required that the houses rapidly diminish in size with distance, the actors were able to use only the…



Why do they call it upstage?



But why Upstage and Downstage? The terminology comes from the days in which the audience seats were on a flat floor and the stage was tilted (razed) toward the audience, so that everyone on the audience floor could see the performance.

What is a batten in Theatre?

BATTEN – 1) Permanent or semi permanent lengths of pipe tied to lines from the grid and used for flying curtains, lights or scenery. (The verb to batten means to fasten scenery together with a batten).

What is considered fixed seating?

Fixed seating is a type of seating which includes backrests and is installed into a fixed location, attaching it to a floor or tiering.