What seating arrangement describes an audience positioned on either side of the acting area?

The seating arrangement where the audience is positioned on either side of the acting area is known as a traverse stage. In this layout, performers can be viewed from both sides, creating a more intimate and immersive experience. The staging allows for dynamic movement and engages the audience in a way that encourages closer observation of the performers and their interactions. This format is often used in modern theatre to enhance the dramatic impact of the performance and can provide a unique perspective on the action unfolding on stage.

Options that describe other configurations, such as a wagon stage, indicate a platform that can move, which is suited for different types (not audience placement) of performances, whereas a tab track refers to a mechanism used for curtain movement, and a thunder sheet is an effect used to create sound on stage. None of these pertain to audience positioning in the way that a traverse stage does.