When a director instructs Bill to move three feet stage left, what direction should Bill move?

When a director instructs an actor to move stage left, it is crucial to understand how stage directions are defined in theater. Stage left refers to the left side of the stage from the perspective of an actor facing the audience. Therefore, if Bill is asked to move three feet stage left, he should move towards his left side while facing the audience, which translates to moving away from the audience.

This understanding of stage directions is fundamental in theatre, as it ensures that actors, crew, and other personnel are all aligned in their movements and positions on stage. This alignment is vital for blocking, choreography, and overall staging of a performance, enabling everyone involved to coordinate effectively.