Readable source
Your file still looks like a script instead of a layout artifact.
Write like a Playwright.
Write plays, not formatting.
Downstage keeps your script readable as plain text and generates it as a clean manuscript or acting edition. Open the Web Editor, preview pages as you write, and export a beautifully-rendered script when you're ready.
Why
A better fit than a word processor
If screenwriting-focused formats such as Fountain aren't the right shape for the stage, and word processors keep pulling you into formatting chores, Downstage keeps the focus on the play.
Theatre-first structure
Acts, scenes, cues, stage directions, songs, and verse are not awkward workarounds.
Clean output
Render PDF or HTML from the same file without rewriting the draft.
Revision history
Because the script is plain text, Git can compare drafts and preserve every revision cleanly.
Get Started
New here?
Start Here to learn the tools and discover the quickest way to get started writing with Downstage.
Workflow
Write, preview, export
Write
Draft the play in plain text without wrestling with formatting controls.
Preview
See pages update live in the Web Editor while you draft.
Export
Generate a clean PDF manuscript or acting edition from the same draft when it is ready to read or share.
Stage
Put a readable draft in actors' hands, rehearsal rooms, or submissions without rebuilding it in another tool.
Reference
Reference when you need it
The full syntax reference lives in the Syntax Guide. The FAQ answers common questions about what Downstage is and why you might use it.