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Plan of the Stage

Inigo Jones'Florimène in the Hall at Whitehall is similar in arrangement to hall theatre installations throughout Europe, although most, by 1635, would have used flat rather than Serlian wings.

Into the Hall at Whitehall, with a width of 37'10", Inigo Jones placed a stage 37'10" wide by approximately 34'0" deep. Seven feet upstage from the front of the stage platform Jones erected a frontispiece 28'6" wide. 16'0" upstage of the frontispiece he placed the backshutter, allowing a little over 10'0" for the relief area and a cross-over.

Seating on the Stage

Jones has placed special seating on the forestage -- literally the "pro-scenium," the area in front of the scene -- a practice common to the period and throughout most of the 18th century as well. This seating was probably separated from the stage by a wickett or railing. There is no indication in the published materials to indicate which fortunate courtiers got to sit in these seats.

It is of note that this seating, like all other seating in front of the State -- the dais upon which the King and Queen sat -- is at right angles to the seats of the monarchs. Although there is no specific evidence to explain why this should be, it seems reasonable that it has to do with court etiquette, which forbad courtiers to turn their backs on the monarchs.*