Stage directions

Several of the words and phrases used in stage directions continue to be used in modern theatre; but a number are typical of the period, in some cases relating to the particular configuration (insofar as this can be deduced) of the Elizabethan theatre.
In Shakespeare’s Words, the general convention is to relate stage directions to their immediately following lines.

For example, the opening direction in a scene will be numbered by referring to line 1 of the scene; a direction immediately before line 42 will be numbered 42; and so on. There are two exceptions. All instances of Exit or Exeunt, including those at the ends of scenes, are numbered with reference to the immediately preceding line. And all stage directions within a line are given that line number.

Item	Example	Gloss
aside	Ham III.i.50	speech not heard by other characters on stage

Movement directions

Item	Example	Gloss
above	TNK II.i.48	in the gallery or upper stage
aloft	AC IV.xv.1	on the upper stage
aloof	TNK V.i.137	to one side, a short distance away
apart	Mac I.iii.126	to one side, away from the others
aside	AC II.vii.57	to one side, away from the others
below	AC IV.xv.6	on the lower stage
break in	2H6 I.iv.40	burst onto the stage
brought out	KL II.ii.138	brought onto the stage
enter	KJ I.i.1	one or more characters come onto the stage
exeunt	H8 V.v.76	more than one character leaves the stage
exit	KL I.ii.117	a character leaves the stage
in	Cor III.i.229	into the dressing-room at the back of the stage
manent	Cor I.i.250	[F only] characters remain on stage
off	AYL I.ii.209	off-stage
severally, several ways	Cym III.iv.195	in different directions [said of people arriving or leaving]
top, on the	Tem III.iii.19	on the upper stage
within	TNK V.iii.77	behind the stage facade [i.e. ‘outside’]

Events

Item	Example	Gloss
alarum, alarums	H5 IV.iv.1	a call to arms
excursions excursion, in an	2H6 V.ii.72	a bout of fighting across the stage

Music

Item	Example	Gloss
cornet	AW I.ii.1	fanfare [as played by cornets, a horn-like wind instrument]
drum	1H6 I.ii.1	drummer
flourish	1H6 I.ii.1	fanfare of horns or trumpets, usually accompanying an entrance or exit
hautboys	H8 I.iv.1	woodwind double-reed instrument resembling an oboe
sennet	AC II.vii.17	trumpet call signalling a procession
trump, trumpet	KL V.iii.109	trumpeter
tucket	AW III.v.1	personal trumpet call

Stage directions

Movement directions

Events

Music

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