In theatrical staging, what do "stage left" and "stage right" refer to?

In theatrical staging, "stage left" and "stage right" are terms that are defined from the actor's perspective while facing the audience. This means that when an actor stands on stage and looks out towards the audience, their left side is designated as stage left and their right side as stage right. This terminology is crucial for providing clear directions regarding movement, blocking, and positioning on stage.

Understanding this perspective helps actors, directors, and stage crew communicate effectively about where actions should take place or where props and scenery should be placed. While the audience views the stage in a different orientation, the terminology is standardized to ensure consistency in the pre-production and performance phases.

The other options, while related to the context of theater, do not correctly represent how staging terminology is applied. The audience's perspective, the director's view, and the positioning of equipment are all important aspects of theater, but they do not define the meanings of stage left and stage right.