Most Common Stage Directions:

Here's a table with some of the most commonly used stage directions with examples:

Stage Direction	Definition
Upstage	The area of the stage furthest away from the audience
Downstage	The area of the stage closest to the audience
Stage Left	The area of the stage to the performer's left when facing the audience
Stage Right	The area of the stage to the performer's right when facing the audience
Center Stage	The area of the stage in the middle, between stage left and stage right
Enter	A direction given to a performer to come onto the stage
Exit	A direction given to a performer to leave the stage
Cross	A direction given to a performer to move from one part of the stage to another
Exit Pursued by a Bear	A humorous stage direction used to indicate a character leaving the stage while being chased by a bear, often seen in Shakespearean plays

Here is a table with the most commonly used stage directions for a Shakespeare play with examples:

Stage Direction	Explanation
Enter	A character enters the stage
Exit	A character leaves the stage
Aside	A character speaks directly to the audience or another character, but other characters on stage cannot hear
Alarum	A trumpet call or other loud noise
Flourish	A fanfare played by trumpets or other instruments
Exeunt	All characters exit the stage
Soliloquy	A character speaks alone on stage, revealing their thoughts or feelings
Monologue	A character speaks at length to other characters on stage
Act	A major division in a play
Scene	A smaller division within an act
Stage directions in parentheses	An instruction for a character's action or tone of voice, usually in parentheses and italics
Stage directions in brackets	An instruction for a character's movement or position, usually in brackets and italics
Pantomime	A silent performance that tells a story through gestures, facial expressions, and movement
Re-enter	A character returns to the stage after exiting
All	All characters on stage
Chorus	A group of actors who comment on the action of the play
Omnes	All characters in the play, including those offstage