A sloping stage which is raised at the back (upstage) end. Many theatres with a ‘stalls’ seating area used to be built with raked stages as a matter of course. Today, the stage is often left flat and the auditorium is lifted to stage level and above to improve the view of the stage from all seats. A rake is expressed as a ratio (eg a 1:25 rake rises by 1cm vertically over 25cm horizontally).
UK Theatres with Raked Stages
See below for London / West End.
List under construction – please Contact Us with additions!
- Aberdeen, His Majesty’s (1:28 approx, earlier quoted as 1:34)
- Blackpool, Grand Theatre (front two-thirds raked 1:24; remaining 1:48)
- Blackpool, Opera House
- Brighton, Theatre Royal (1:48)
- Buxton, Opera House
- Cardiff, New Theatre (1:24)
- Crewe, Lyceum Theatre (1:18)
- Darlington, Civic Theatre
- Edinburgh, Kings Theatre (1:24) – removed in 2020 refurbishment
- Edinburgh, Royal Lyceum (1:24)
- Glasgow, Kings Theatre (1:24)
- Leeds, Grand Theatre (1:24)
- Malvern, Festival Theatre (1:24)
- Newcastle, Theatre Royal (1:24)
- Nottingham, Theatre Royal (1:25)
- Sheffield, Lyceum
- Southend, Cliffs (1:21)
- Southend, Palace (1:18)
- Southsea, Kings (1:24)
- Stockport, Plaza (slightly raked)
- Wakefield (1:30)
- Wolverhampton, Grand Theatre (1:26)
UK London/West End Theatres with Raked Stages
Arts: 1:20
Aldwych: 1:18 (or 1:24 – to be clarified)
Barbican Theatre: 1:15 (removable)
Duke of Yorks: 1:70
Garrick: 1:24 (or 1:30 – to be clarified)
Gielgud: 1:48
Hackney Empire: 1:31
Harold Pinter: 1:29
Haymarket Theatre Royal: 1:16
Novello Theatre: Slight rake
Old Vic: 1:16 (or 1:22 – to be clarified)
Palace: 1:24
Sondheim Theatre (Queens): 1:24
Richmond Theatre: 1:24
Sadler’s Wells: 1:54
Savoy: 1:120
Steiner Theatre: Slight rake
Theatre Royal Stratford East: 1:24
Theatre Royal Drury Lane (was 1:24) removed in 2020/1 refurbishment
Vaudeville: 1:24
Victoria Palace: 1:24
Westminster: 1:96
Wimbledon Theatre: 1:32