escena

Escena is a Spanish noun with several related meanings that revolve around the place and moment in which actions occur, especially in theatre, cinema, and narrative.

In the performing arts, escena commonly denotes two related concepts. First, the physical space of a performance—the stage or a portion of it where actors perform. Second, a subdivision of a dramatic work: a scene is a unit of action that takes place in a single location and time, with characters present, and it is separated from the next by a change of setting or time. Scripts and librettos are organized into scenes.

Escena can also refer to the visible setting or environment of a performance, i.e., the scenery or atmosphere, though the term escenografía is more specific for stage design.

Beyond theatre and film, escena is used in everyday language to describe a notable sequence of events. Examples include "una escena en la obra" or "la escena del crimen" (crime scene). In broader usage, a dramatic or conspicuous display or moment may be described as una escena.

Etymology traces the word to Latin scena, via Old French and Spanish, reflecting its long association with stages and performances. The feminine noun is la escena; plural las escenas.