If you’ve ever been to the theatre, seen a movie in the cinema, or spent time in lecture halls, you have probably sat in rake seating. This style of angled seats allows guests towards the back to see more of the stage, which can make for an improved experience.
The rake was traditionally an integral part of theatre construction, and a method used to improve audience visibility and sound clarity. The rake also provides a useful design tool for scenic designers, who can use it to convey an atmosphere, emphasize a particular area of the set, or even to overcome design limitations of the venue.
The Advantages of Rake Seating: Benefits for Various Venues
In modern times, raked seating has become less commonplace. The introduction of stadium-style auditoriums, which angle the audience seating banks instead of the stage floor, has helped to eliminate cluttered sightlines for many spectators. However rakes persist in the theatre, and some venues are reluctant to remove their existing raked seating areas, which may have a historical association with the theater and evoke nostalgia from loyal patrons.
One of the biggest issues with raked seating is that it can disrupt sightlines for anyone who stands center stage for a scene change. To help avoid this, many theatres put a safety bar or two, or three, running the length of the aisle to prevent people from falling over when they try to swing themselves into their seat. Unfortunately, these bars often line up to run straight through the middle of anybody standing in the front rows.
