GCSE DRAMA COMPONENT 1
UNDERSTANDING DRAMA 2026 PRACTICE
TEST QUESTIONS WITH EXEMPLAR ANSWERS
◉ Which one is upstage centre? Answer: 2
◉ Which one is upstage right? Answer: 1
◉ Which one is centre stage? Answer: 5
◉ Which one is downstage left? Answer: 9
◉ Which one is downstage centre? Answer: 8
◉ Which one is downstage right? Answer: 7
◉ What is a proscenium arch stage? Answer: Box-shaped
performance space, set back from the audience. the 'proscenium
arch' being the frame that separates the audience from the stage.
Sometimes with an apron that extends into the audience.
, ◉ What is theatre in the round? Answer: The audience is seated on
all sides of the stage, lack of wings/backstage, so performers enter
through audience.
◉ What is a thrust stage? Answer: The audience are seated on three
sides of it.
◉ What is a traverse stage? Answer: A long narrow stage that runs
straight through the middle of the audience.
◉ What is end on staging? Answer: When the audience sit on one
side of the stage only, facing it in the same direction.
◉ What is a promenade stage? Answer: When the audience can
move around and follow the action during a performance
◉ What are the implications of theatre in the round? Answer: The
performer will always have their back to one section of the audience.
Have to have minimal scenery as too large can ruin sight lines for
audience
◉ What are the implications of proscenium arch? Answer: The
audience may struggle to feel involved, makes it more formal so is
less suited to physical and non-naturalistic theatre.
UNDERSTANDING DRAMA 2026 PRACTICE
TEST QUESTIONS WITH EXEMPLAR ANSWERS
◉ Which one is upstage centre? Answer: 2
◉ Which one is upstage right? Answer: 1
◉ Which one is centre stage? Answer: 5
◉ Which one is downstage left? Answer: 9
◉ Which one is downstage centre? Answer: 8
◉ Which one is downstage right? Answer: 7
◉ What is a proscenium arch stage? Answer: Box-shaped
performance space, set back from the audience. the 'proscenium
arch' being the frame that separates the audience from the stage.
Sometimes with an apron that extends into the audience.
, ◉ What is theatre in the round? Answer: The audience is seated on
all sides of the stage, lack of wings/backstage, so performers enter
through audience.
◉ What is a thrust stage? Answer: The audience are seated on three
sides of it.
◉ What is a traverse stage? Answer: A long narrow stage that runs
straight through the middle of the audience.
◉ What is end on staging? Answer: When the audience sit on one
side of the stage only, facing it in the same direction.
◉ What is a promenade stage? Answer: When the audience can
move around and follow the action during a performance
◉ What are the implications of theatre in the round? Answer: The
performer will always have their back to one section of the audience.
Have to have minimal scenery as too large can ruin sight lines for
audience
◉ What are the implications of proscenium arch? Answer: The
audience may struggle to feel involved, makes it more formal so is
less suited to physical and non-naturalistic theatre.
