jargon; THE THEATRE

papering the house filling the theatre with free ticket-holders

break a leg

good luck

the Scottish play Macbeth; superstitiously unmentionable by name

the get-out removing the set from a theatre

green room backstage room set aside for actors and crew

the gods top balcony

striking the set dismantling the set for a get-out

corpsing laughing unintentionally on stage

flies space above the stage where scenery, lighting etc is suspended

noises off theatrical sound-effects produced off-stage

the hot spot a place where great acting has just taken place

to ham it up to overact

gone dark said of a theatre that has closed

going up starting a performance

dead-heads audience members with free tickets

tread the boards to act

swazzle mouth device to create a high pitched voice

resting euphemism for unemployment

compiled by pascal wyse