House left and house right

Also called: HL / HR · Audience left / audience right

Directions taken from the audience's point of view. House left is the audience's left, which is the actors' stage right.

DirectorsProducersStage managers

Stage leftThe actor's left as they face the audience. Directions are always given from the actor's point of view, so the audience sees it on their right.
Stage rightThe actor's right as they face the audience. The audience sees it on their left.
HouseWhere the audience sits. It also means the audience itself, as in "a full house" or "the house is open."

More in The stage

Upstage Downstage Centre stage Apron Proscenium Thrust