Fourth wall

The fourth wall is an imagined convention in narrative drama that separates performers from the audience. It is often understood as the open side of a room-like stage set, through which the audience views the action. Performers behave as though they cannot see the audience, remaining within the fictional world. The idea also applies to films, videos, and television, where characters act as if unaware of the camera.

Type

Dramatic convention

Stage meaning

The open side of a room-like set facing the audience

Use beyond theatre

Also describes the boundary between characters and audiences on screen