The stage area closest to the audience, ahead of the performer as he faces the audience
When an actor is downstage or moves downstage, he or she is or moves towards the front part of the stage. Krishna stands downstage in the open area. upstage Downstage is also an adjective. downstage members of the cast. towards or near the front of the stage in a theatre upstage
the edge of the stage closest to the audience In the early days of theatre, the stage was "raked", or slanted upwards towards the back of the stage, so that the audience could see people "behind" other people while sitting at stage level (see diagram) With a raked stage, the edge closest to the audience is lowest, so is called "downstage", and the edge farthest from the audience is highest, so is called "Upstage "
at or toward the front of the stage; "the actors moved further and further downstage"
That part of the stage closest to the audience The term dates back to the eighteenth century, when the stage was raked so that the front part was literally below the back (or upstage) portion