(see Cinematography). Stage directions The stage itself has been given named areas to facilitate blocking. The rear of the stage area, farthest from the audience, is upstage. The front, nearest the audience, is downstage. The terms derive from the once common use of raked stages that slope downward toward the audience. In English-speaking cultures generally, stage left and stage right refer to the actors' left and right when facing the audience. Sometimes the terms prompt and bastard/opposite prompt are used as synonyms. (See also Prompt corner) House left and house right refer to the audience perspective. In productions for film or video, analogous terms are screen left/right and camera left/right. To cross is to move. An actor placed up-stage right in blocking may be instructed by a director to cross down-stage left when speaking a line. Non-English-speaking cultures French In French, house right is côté cour (courtyard side) and house left is côté jardin (garden side). The history of the term goes back to the Comédie-Française, where since 1770, the troupe performed in the Théâtre des Tuileries in the former Tuileries Palace: the venue had the Louvre courtyard on one side, and the Tuileries Garden on the other side. Before that time the house right was called "côté de la reine" (Queen side), and the house left "côté du roi" (King side), because of the respective positions of the Queen and King galleries. This designation was abandoned after the French Revolution. Cantonese opera In Cantonese opera, stage right is called yi bin (the side of clothings) and stage left is zaap bin (the side of props). Other languages In German, Italian and Arabic, left and right always refer to the audience perspective. References Stage terminology Film and video terminology Theatre Acting Choreography