Five Differences between Stage and Screen Acting

[Edited 15/11/2021]

Whatever kind of acting you do; it will hugely help your performance if you train for both stage and screen. However, it’s not a case of  ‘one size fits all’,  there are many subtleties that you need to carry through performance, tweaking them for stage or screen.

In this blog we look at five differences between acting for stage and acting for screen:

Check out our other blog post: Top Acting Monologues from Films

What is Screen Acting

Screen acting is a style of performance designed especially for film and television, where the camera captures every detail—from subtle facial expressions to a single tear. Unlike stage actors, who project emotions to a large audience, screen actors rely on natural expressions and gestures that feel genuine in different shots.

Purpose:

Screen acting aims to convey emotions, actions, and dialogue through the lens of a camera, capturing subtle nuances that might be missed on stage.

Audience:

Unlike stage acting, where actors perform for a live audience, screen actors perform for the camera, which serves as the “audience.”

Techniques:

• Subtle expressions – Small facial movements and body language create an authentic performance.
• Multiple takes – Actors frequently re-record lines to correct continuity errors or adjust their performance.
• Adaptability – Actors must adjust to impromptu script changes, budgetary concerns, and maintaining consistent performances across different shooting days.

What is Stage Acting

Stage acting takes place in a live theatre performance, where actors must deliver their lines with expressive body gestures to reach even the last row of the audience. Unlike screen performances, there are no do-overs—actors must adapt to missed cues, forgotten props, and impromptu script changes in real time.

Purpose:

Stage acting requires actors to project emotions outward, ensuring that even audience members in the back can see and feel their performance.

Audience:

Stage actors perform in front of a live audience, where every show brings new energy and engagement.

Techniques:

• Vocal projection – Ensuring dialogue reaches the entire audience.
• Expressive body language – Larger movements make emotions clear, even from a distance.
• Real-time adaptation – Actors must respond instantly to live performance challenges.

Stage Acting vs Screen Acting

Facial Expressions and Body Gestures

Screen actors have their ‘audience’, AKA the camera, very close to them. They are constantly aware that the eyes they are playing to are intimate. On stage, the audience are further away and this needs to be mirrored in performance style.

For screen actors, the smallest of facial expression and gestures can be picked up by those ‘eyes close by’, but for stage actors they have to cheat them, aware their audience is 10+ft away.

Preparation and Performance

On stage, things happen in real time. That means the actors rehearse together and then have a set number of times to perform their show. On screen, if an actor makes a mistake, they can re-do it, scenes can be edited or cut and there’s an element of ‘stop/start’. Screen actors are go, go, go!

Voice and Volume

Thinking back to audience proximity again, as the ‘audience’ are so close for screen actors, they don’t need to think so hard about the volume at which they pitch their voices. Screen actors need to be able to understand how to project their voices. If they don’t, they will have a sore throat very quickly!

Material

Scripts for stage and screen are very different. It’s a good idea to read some TV scripts, you can access them on BBC Writers Room, and take a look at The Royal Court for some ideas of theatre scripts. Generally speaking, although the arc of a story may be similar, formatting, characters and structure for the writing of the two mediums will be very diverse.

Sequence

On stage we start at the beginning and we end at the finale. Shooting for TV is very different, you pick up scenes here, there and everywhere. It depends on locations, time of day and a myriad of other factors so there is no clear through-line to the start and the end. You are very much on your toes!

Is Stage or Screen Acting Harder?

Both stage and screen acting have their own set of difficulties. Stage acting requires being able to convey emotions and voice to a live audience without any do-overs. This demands a large amount of energy and stamina. Screen acting focuses on subtlety, maintaining consistency across takes, and working with camera angles. Neither is definitively harder. It depends on an actor’s skills and preferences.

How Do You Get Into Screen Acting?

To start in screen acting, take a screen acting class focused on film techniques and build a strong showreel. Audition for student films, commercials, and independent projects to gain experience. Networking with industry professionals, getting an agent, and attending casting calls can also help land roles in larger productions.