What does "blocking" refer to in theater?

Blocking refers specifically to the arrangement of actors on stage during a performance. It involves determining where actors will stand, move, and interact with one another within the performance space. Proper blocking is essential as it helps convey the story visually, establishes relationships among characters, and can enhance the overall staging and composition of the scene. Effective blocking also considers the visibility of the actors to the audience, ensuring that actions and emotions are communicated clearly.

Understanding blocking is critical for the overall productivity of the play, as it lays the foundation for how a scene is perceived and understood by the audience. Other aspects, such as pacing and transitions between scenes, are important in their own right but do not pertain to the spatial arrangement and movement of actors that is central to the concept of blocking.