What stage design features an audience surrounding the stage on three sides?

• A. Proscenium stage
• B. Thrust stage
• C. Arena stage
• D. Laboratory stage

Answer: (B)

Stage configurations determine how the audience is arranged relative to the performers. A thrust stage extends into the audience, with seating wrapping around three sides of the playing area. This design places the action closer to most viewers and lets the actors move and interact from multiple directions, creating the feeling that the stage is surrounded on three sides.

In contrast, a proscenium stage keeps the audience on one side, viewing through a framed opening. An arena stage surrounds the performance on all four sides, with seating around every edge. A laboratory stage isn’t a standard term for stage design and doesn’t describe three-sided audience seating. So the setup that best matches an audience surrounding the stage on three sides is the thrust stage.