Theatre Glossary: E

E is for entrances, egos, and everyone being a little bit extra. Whether you’re an actor, a volunteer, a curious audience member, or just someone who enjoys the chaos of live performance, this glossary will have you speaking fluent theatre in no time. Let’s explore…

Effects

Lights, sound, haze, fog, and all the magical extras that make theatre feel like theatre. Also the source of 98% of backstage stress and 100% of the phrase: “Why isn’t it working?!”

Emcee (MC)

The host of the show. Officially a Master of Ceremonies, unofficially a human caffeine machine who has to keep the audience entertained while something backstage catches fire.

Emergency Cover

When the star is sick, the understudy is also sick, the director starts stress-sweating, and then someone brave (or foolish) steps up and saves the show. Theatre’s version of a superhero origin story.

Encore

When the audience love it so much they demand “MORE, MORE, MORE!” even though the cast are dehydrated, the band are sweating, and the tech crew have already mentally gone home.

Ending

The bit at the end. Where everything is resolved, everyone learns a lesson, and the cast immediately forgets all blocking the second the curtain comes down.

Ensemble

The long-suffering supporting cast who quietly carry the show while the leads discuss their “process” and ask for more spotlight. The true heroes. The backbone. The ones doing 90% of the work in 12 costume changes.

Enter

The instruction in the script that tells you when to come on stage. Often ignored by someone who “thought they had more time” and is now sprinting in from the wrong side.

Entrance

The moment you come on stage. Can be dramatic, subtle, or… ruined instantly when you trip over a cable and pretend it was intentional blocking.

Epilogue

The bit at the end that ties up loose ends and tells you what happened after the plot. Also known as: “We ran out of story but we still need to emotionally destroy the audience one last time.”

Equity

The organisation that makes sure professional actors aren’t taken advantage of. Basically: the reason producers can’t pay you in “exposure” and a lukewarm sandwich.

Exeunt

The snobby version of the word below…

Exit

When you leave the stage. The best ones are overly dramatic, perfectly timed, and make the audience gasp. The worst ones are because you missed your cue and someone hissed “GET OFF!” from the wings.

Exposition

All the bits in the script that explain what the heck is going on. Usually delivered as a totally natural conversation like: “Hello, my sister, who I have lived with for 12 years since the fire…”

Expression

Happy, sad, angry… if you can tell what the actor feels, they’re doing great. If you can’t, they’re either “going subtle” or they’ve forgotten what scene they’re in.

Whether you're making an entrance, delivering exposition like it’s natural conversation, or praying the effects work first time… you’re now officially one step closer to speaking fluent stagey.