What are the seats in the theater called? Best seats in the theater

THEATER PARTERRE(French parterre, from par - by and terre - land), ground floor auditorium with seats for the audience in the space from the stage or from the orchestra pit to the opposite wall or to the amphitheater. As a rule, the level of the stalls is 1–1.1 m below the stage plank, and the same amount above the floor of the orchestra pit.

The prototype, an early form of the stalls, was the bench for senators in the ancient Roman theater.

In the modern sense of the word, stalls appeared in the theater at the beginning of the 17th century, along with the emergence of a fundamentally new, so-called. “ranked” or “tiered” type of theater building. The historical transformation of the parterre arrangement reflected the development of social trends and relationships.

During the Middle Ages, the theater experienced a time of persecution, and, accordingly, no new theater buildings were built. At that time, only church performances were allowed. IN early period(9th–12th centuries) liturgical drama was played inside churches; later (12th–13th centuries), to increase the number of spectators, it was moved to the porch. The audience was positioned along an extremely long stage area. Performances of mysteries and morality plays (14th–16th centuries), due to the ever-increasing number of spectators, were carried out in blocked-off squares and streets. A booth-type stage was erected; wealthier citizens had the opportunity to watch performances from the balconies and windows of surrounding houses, the lower classes were located on the ground.

The art of constructing theater buildings experienced its rebirth during the early Renaissance in Italy. When developing projects for the first high-ranking theaters, the places in front of the stage - that is, the stalls - were traditionally intended for the lower class. Therefore, the stalls did not have seating; spectators here watched the performances while standing.

Seating in the stalls first appeared in closed private aristocratic theaters in England (early 17th century), in contrast to public English theaters of that time, where spectators traditionally stood in the stalls. However, here the stalls for noble visitors were not stationary; stools were placed in the stalls as needed.

The first stationary seats in the stalls were designed by the architect C. Ledoux during the construction of the theater in Besançon (completion of construction 1784). This innovation was to a certain extent inspired by democratic ideas French Revolution. The idea of ​​equality manifested itself in this case in the fact that the spectators watching the performance “from below” should be provided with the same amenities as the spectators seated in the boxes.

In a modern stall, seats for spectators are placed parallel to the ramp or barrier of the orchestra and are separated by longitudinal and transverse passages leading to exits from the hall. For better visibility, the floor level of the auditorium usually rises from the front rows of the stalls to the back. The most “advantageous” seats for spectators, in terms of acoustics, maximum visibility and integrity of perception of the visual image of the performance, are considered to be the central seats of the seventh row of the stalls.

Tatiana Shabalina

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 several general rules It is still possible to formulate. First you need to imagine the layout of the hall. The hall has several zones that are clearly separated from each other. Maximum amount There are five zones in the largest theater: , , , and .

Parterre

The area of ​​the auditorium closest to the stage is usually below its level. It is generally believed that tickets in the first row of the stalls are the most expensive and the most good places. 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. Especially if it's a concert classical music 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. Ballet and performances with a large number characters It's best to look away from the stage so you can see all the action at once.

Mezzanine

Literally translated from French - beautiful floor. In architecture second after 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 places 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 is believed that theater begins with a hanger. But this aphorism is far from the truth. In fact, theater begins with the purchase of tickets. Which seat in the auditorium should you choose to fully enjoy an opera, ballet or performance? Price is not always a criterion for quality. For example, the first seats in the stalls are always expensive, but the viewer sitting there hears not the voices of the actors, but the sounds from the orchestra pit; He must sit throughout the performance with his head raised, and what is happening prevents him from seeing the back of the conductor’s head. Before buying tickets, it doesn’t hurt to figure out what a mezzanine in a theater, benoir, stalls, amphitheater, box, balcony and gallery are. Our article will introduce you to the intricacies of the structure of the auditorium.

What does the theater look like?

Of course, the temples of Melpomene are different. There are small ones, the auditorium of which consists only of the stalls and the first tier. There are theaters with special features, for example, with a “royal box”, the decorative stucco of which blocks the view of the audience from below. There are halls without stalls, where each row is higher than the previous one (the so-called amphitheater). But here we will give a diagram classical theater. So, right in front of the stage, just below it, is the stalls. Immediately behind it is the amphitheater. On both sides of the stage, at its level or slightly above, there are two boxes called benoir. The name comes from the French baignoire - bathhouse. The fact is that these boxes are covered with a fine mesh, which determines a certain intimacy. It prevents the spectators sitting there from seeing, but in no way interferes with the latter's view.

On the same level as the stalls along the wall there are boxes with a separate entrance. Where is the mezzanine in the theater? It is located above the stalls. And even over the amphitheater. In some buildings there is a “royal” box on the same level. Above the mezzanine are the first, second and third tiers. The topmost of them is called a gallery or raek.

The word itself comes from architecture. In rich houses, the second floor, located above the ground floor, was decorated more than others. The first tier usually housed the kitchen and utility and functional premises. On the third - bedrooms, offices, boudoirs. On the fourth floor, if there was one, there were servants' rooms. But the second tier was the front tier. There were ballrooms, living rooms, and reception rooms. Sometimes the main staircase led directly to the mezzanine. The term bel étage, as we see, consists of two words. Its literal translation is “beautiful floor.” This second tier of a rich house was magnificent not only inside, but also outside. It was decorated with large windows, stucco and beautiful trim. What is a mezzanine in a theater? Photos show that this term in the temple of Melpomene carries the same meaning as in the architecture of the house. This is not just a second tier. The mezzanine, as a rule, is also the most beautiful.

Problems related to location in different parts of the visual range

Even if you know what a mezzanine is in a theater, this is not a guarantee that you will buy the best seats. The appearance of the auditorium matters here; design of rows (sometimes steep and high sides interfere with visibility); acoustics (sound pits, etc.). Theater regulars have information that sometimes good visibility is accompanied by poor hearing, and vice versa. Therefore, for the ballet you need to purchase some seats (first tier, benoir), and for the opera - completely different ones (dress circle, stalls from the fifth row and beyond, amphitheater, boxes). At symphonic orchestral performances, the sound is well revealed in general on the second tier.

At chamber concerts it is better to sit not far, but not close to the stage, but always in the middle. But the mezzanine is considered the best part of the auditorium. Even if the theater is not famous for its acoustics, the sound carries forward and slightly upward from the stage. So the audience on the most beautiful tier can enjoy the opera without any interference. Visibility there is also excellent, since the second floor allows you to see all the action from above and, unlike the gallery, without the help of binoculars.

What are the best seats in the theater on the dress circle?

As you can see, this “beautiful tier” has an advantage both in terms of visibility of the stage and audibility. But since the floor stretches along the entire back wall theater, it is important to know which seats to buy. And this depends on the structure of each specific auditorium. Let's take the Mariinsky Theater and the Old Stage as an example.

Here the mezzanine is divided into boxes. Ticket prices are, to put it mildly, steep. It is best seen and heard from the first row of central boxes. Cells No. 11 and No. 12 offer excellent visibility. And from the second row too. The view is quite noticeably obstructed decorative ornaments"royal box". Also, you should not buy tickets for the mezzanine next to the benoirs. These boxes are equipped with columns that block part of the stage from the audience. In the New Hall Mariinsky Theater There are a few blind spots, but this does not apply to the mezzanine. Visibility and audibility there are wonderful.

Mikhailovsky Theater

This cultural temple also has a classical auditorium. There are all the elements: stalls, mezzanine, benoir and three tiers with boxes. Music lovers here also claim that sound and visibility in Mikhailovsky are in conflict. In addition, here there is the notorious “royal box”. The hall in the Mikhailovsky Theater is small. Therefore, the roundness of the tiers at a large angle leads to poor visibility in the lateral places. Knowing what the mezzanine is in a theater, you also need to understand that ideal viewing of the action and enjoyment of sounds without extraneous interference are achievable only in places in the center (directly opposite the stage).

State Variety Theater

Despite all the interesting performances on this stage, the audience unanimously criticizes the layout of the auditorium. Many people know that the best places are located on the “beautiful tier”. That's why they buy tickets to the mezzanine of the Variety Theater. How can you see the stage from there? If you sit in the center, it's still bearable. But the sound arrives with distortion. To the left and right of the center the mezzanine is completely unsuitable for theatrical productions.

According to spectators, it is convenient to hide there, since there are some columns, sides and other obstacles. As a result, you can only see a small part of the stage, and only from the first row. The sound that comes out is incomprehensible, with interference, a continuous inarticulate hum. Best places V State Theater the stage is the stalls.

They say that theater begins with the hanger, but in reality it begins with the purchase of tickets. The main question is which places to choose? There are stalls, boxes, mezzanine... In some theaters there are so-called uncomfortable seats - these are where you can’t see anything and hear little. However, such inconveniences are not always warned in advance. To avoid getting into trouble, MIR 24 TV channel correspondent Ekaterina Rogalskaya looked at the scene from all sides.

Some places are too far away, while from others the edge of the stage is not visible. To choose the best seats, first let's look at the layout of the theater hall.

What kind of seats are there in the auditorium?

1. The stalls are the places in the auditorium area that are closest to the stage.
2. The amphitheater is the space immediately behind the stalls. Usually the amphitheater area is slightly above the stalls.
3. Seats in the mezzanine are even higher.
4. At the very top there is a balcony.
5. On both sides of the stalls there are boxes - these are small spaces with a separate entrance.

Lodge

By tradition, seats in the box are considered the most prestigious - previously only rich visitors could sit there. Each box has separate entrance, and besides this, you can not only watch the performance, but also show yourself. More than a hundred years ago, this is precisely why representatives of high society came. The officers sat in the stalls, and the titled persons sat in separate boxes. Leo Tolstoy described this in.

The seats in the box are some of the most uncomfortable. The stage is not completely visible, and you have to watch the performance half-turned.

Edward Lewis introduces Richard Gere to the opera by purchasing tickets in the box. But in fact, the places there are some of the most uncomfortable. The stage is not completely visible, and you have to watch the performance half-turned.

Parterre

Today, to the question “What are the best seats in the theater?” Almost everyone will answer “on the ground.” Seats in the stalls are traditionally considered the best, and they are also the most expensive. Moreover, almost every theater has a so-called “sound pit” - it is located somewhere between rows 5 and 10. There the sound literally flies over the viewer. This is especially important if you are going to the opera.

A famous film example: Bruce Willis' character Corwin Dallas in the film The Fifth Element watches the opera from the front row. Many people will not recommend taking tickets to the front rows of the stalls. It is only from afar that it seems that the artists are fluttering around the stage like butterflies, but in the first row you will hear all the extraneous noises. In addition, you will have to watch the action with your head raised, and you will still see the back of the conductor’s head in front of you.

Choose seats in the middle of the hall or a little further. Tickets are cheaper and the view is better.

Choose seats in the middle of the hall or a little further. Tickets there are cheaper than in the front rows, and the view is better. In addition to the stalls, real theatergoers often choose the first rows of the dress circle.

In general, the most prestigious and expensive places in the theater does not mean the best. Sometimes even on the balcony you can see and hear everything without interference.

Auditorium

Amphitheater(translated from Greek - “on both sides”) - this is the name of the places that rise behind the stalls with ledges. They are arranged in a semicircle.

Balcony- seats in the auditorium, located in an amphitheater in different tiers (1st tier, 2nd tier...).

Mezzanine(translated from French - “beautiful”, “wonderful”) - the first tier of the auditorium, located in a semicircle above the benoir and amphitheater. In ancient theater buildings, in the center of the mezzanine there was the so-called “royal box”. These are the most comfortable seats in the theater. The performance did not begin until the king arrived, even if he was an hour late. When he appeared, everyone applauded him, at his sign the lights were turned off and the performance began. If the king laughed, then most of the spectators laughed, if he yawned, then boredom attacked the spectators. But the worst thing for the actors was if His Majesty got up and left during the action. This meant complete failure.

Benoir(translated from French as “bath”) - boxes located on both sides of the stalls at stage level and partitioned off from each other. The history of the origin of benoir is quite funny. Once upon a time in France, which was a trendsetter in Europe, the privileged noble audience was on stage during the action, which, of course, greatly disturbed the actors. But in the 18th century this was prohibited. Then, in order to separate aristocratic spectators from the rest of the public, benoir boxes were invented. In those days, these boxes were even covered with special nets, which allowed those inside to remain invisible.

Gallery- the highest balcony of the auditorium, on which there are not very comfortable, but the cheapest seats. Previously, the gallery was called "paradise".

Parterre(translated from French as “on the ground”) - the lower part of the auditorium, located on the plane in front of the stage and closest to it.

Foyer- part of a theater building intended for spectators. In the foyer the audience awaits the start of the performance, and during the intermission they exchange impressions. The foyer is decorated with stands telling the history of the theater, as well as portraits of the actors working there.

Scene

Proscenium- the front part of the stage area between the curtain and the ramp.

Scenery(translated from French as “to decorate”) is the artistic design of the stage, recreating the environment in which the play takes place.

Backdrop- a large piece of fabric or other material that is hung on the part of the stage furthest from the audience and usually represents the general background for the scenery.

A curtain- several connected panels covering the stage from the audience. This is the threshold beyond which a theatrical fairy tale begins.

Grate bars- grating flooring for installing stage mechanisms and hanging scenery. If you, sitting in the hall, see how some decorations “fly up” and disappear and others descend, know that they are all mounted on grates.

Backstage- flat parts of theatrical scenery, plain or painted panels, which are located in pairs on the sides of the stage, parallel or at an angle to the ramp.

Tablet(translated from French as “board”) - the floor of the stage. The stage board consists of individual wooden panels made from high quality pine boards, which fit tightly together, but can be removed if necessary. The tablet must be very durable, because there are heavy decorations and a lot of people on it.

Turntable- part of the stage area located in the center and capable of rotating. The rotation of the turntable creates the illusion of continuous stage action. The circle can also be an invoice, smaller in size than the main one. The turntable was invented in Japan in the 18th century; it was used to equip the famous Japanese Kabuki theater.

Ramp- a lighting device placed on the proscenium along its front edge. The stage lights illuminate the stage, performers and decorations from the front and bottom. The lighting equipment of the ramp is usually hidden from the public by a low side.

Soffit(translated from Italian as “ceiling”) is theatrical lighting equipment designed to illuminate the stage from the front and from above. Soffits can create the impression of bright sunny morning or twilight, dark dungeon or moonlit night.

Prompter(translated from French - “to blow, to blow”). In the old days, this position was one of the most important in the theater. The prompter suggested the text to the artists from a specially equipped booth that was located on the stage. In those days, plays were produced very quickly, artists from different cities often gathered in one theater, the plays were verbose and the actors did not have time to learn the text. Therefore, performances, as a rule, were performed “under a prompter.”

Scene(translated from Greek - “tent”) - the platform on which it takes place theatrical performance. The very first stage in Europe was in Ancient Greece and was a round platform - it was called the “orchestra”. In the 16th century in England, performances were performed in hotel courtyards with internal galleries to which a platform was attached. Gradually, over time, the scene acquired the appearance it has now. There are small scenes where the action takes place in the center and the audience sits around.

Pure change- a change or rearrangement of scenery, which is done in front of the audience, usually in complete darkness, in a few seconds. requires clear and coordinated actions of all technical personnel.