In a play, stage directions are instructions in the text indicating movement, position, tone, or lighting. They tell actors where to stand, how to speak, and what to do. They tell directors and designers what the scene should look like.

Stage directions are usually written in italics or parentheses. They can be minimal or elaborate. Shakespeare’s stage directions are famously sparse: “Exit, pursued by a bear.” George Bernard Shaw wrote long, detailed directions that read like novels. Some playwrights, like Samuel Beckett, make stage directions part of the dramatic experience. In Waiting for Godot, the directions are precise and repetitive. Modern plays often leave more to the director. Stage directions are not spoken aloud. They are the blueprints for the performance, not the performance itself.

What they cover

• Entrances and exits
• Movement and gestures
• Tone of voice
• Lighting and sound cues