Final answer:
The term 'upstage' designates the area of a stage farthest from the audience, and it is where an actor might move to lessen the focus on themselves. This contrasts with 'downstage,' which is the area nearest the audience, offering greater visibility.
Step-by-step explanation:
The area farthest from the audience where an actor goes to take the attention away from others is known as upstage. This term originated from the incline of early stages where moving to the higher end, or 'up' the stage, would physically place an actor further from the audience. When an actor moves upstage, they draw other actors to turn away from the audience to interact, which diverts focus. In contraposition, downstage refers to the area of the stage closest to the audience, offering greater visibility and potential for engagement with the audience. The difference between upstage and downstage is crucial for stage blocking and for the creation of effective stage pictures, both of which help to highlight important story elements and characters during a performance.