http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphitheatre
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auditorium

Amphitheater - Outdoor (open air) Structure, More Sitting Capacity.
Auditorium - Indoor Structure, Less Sitting Capacity.

If we watch a Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet" in both Amphitheater and Auditorium with the same artists performing, which would be more effective for the end user audience ?.

Do you feel the same play will be more effective watching in Auditorium, Amphitheater or it will not make any difference ?.


Thanks & Regards,
Prashant S Akerkar

An amphitheater is not only outdoors, but the seats form a circle completely around the open center, where the stage is placed. That is what "amphi" means -- it means "both." In other words, this is what is called "theater in the round." The play must be staged differently in this case, since if you have all the actors facing one direction, their backs will be toward half of the audience. Therefore, thje action in an amphitheater mis set up so that various actors are moving in different directions, etc.

It is my poinion that many plays are more effective when staged this way, but Romeo and Juliet has at least one balcony scene, and many indoor scenes, which are difficult to stage in the round. No matter where you put the balcony, half of the audience will be behind it, which will not work well for them. A play whose action takes place almost entirely outdoors works best, or one that takes place in the center of a room (the audience just imagines the walls of the room are transparent), but something that requires a flat surface, such as a wall or balcony does not work very well.

Hope that helps!

Stuart Anderson

Thank you.

Thanks & Regards,
Prashant S Akerkar