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Generally, in some indoor stadiums or arenas or theaters, if you will...there is a walkable space in the roof or the area directly above the stage...from which many technical activities are performed...

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The general term you might refer to is Catwalk, but there must be a specific term for stage.

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  • If it is directly above the stage as part of the production set, it might be scaffolding, but catwalk is what I had in mind as well. – jxh Dec 4 '14 at 3:10
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    Catwalk (ktwôk) n. A narrow, often elevated walkway, as on the sides of a bridge or in the flies above a theater stage. TFD – Mazura Dec 4 '14 at 3:18
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    A photo from a good angle: austinchronicle.com/binary/5050/arts_feature99-6.jpg – 0.. Dec 4 '14 at 3:45
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    I've always heard catwalk for the theater. – Chris Sunami supports Monica Dec 4 '14 at 16:45
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    And here was I thinking a catwalk was just the runway that fashion models prance up and down! Never knew it meant anything else (apparently it's also a similar structure on a whaling boat). Learn summat new ev’ry day! – Janus Bahs Jacquet Dec 4 '14 at 17:37
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Above the stage is the Rope Loft or Fly Loft. To day it's usually referred to as The Grid. The working/walking areas are usually referred to as The Bridge. If you say "Up on the grid" riggers and techs will know what you're talking about.

Also see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fly_system

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    +1 When I was active in theatre ('65-'95 in the US) the grid was specifically the system of cris-crossing beams from which scenic and lighting elements were suspended; the area above that, where people worked, was the flies--you might say someone was working on the grid or in the flies. A catwalk was a section of the grid boarded over to make work and movement less precarious. – StoneyB on hiatus Dec 4 '14 at 14:44
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I would refer to such a platform as a "gantry".

A bridge-like overhead structure with a platform supporting equipment such as a crane, signals, or cameras:

"the TV cameras on gantries alongside the 17th and 18th holes"

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  • A gantry is just a frame that things are mounted on: it's not necessarily walkable. – David Richerby Dec 4 '14 at 14:29
  • Not necessarily, I agree. But they can be. – Ste Dec 4 '14 at 16:01
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Castles and cathedrals have “allures/alurs/alures” aka “wall-walks” around their perimeters near/at/above roof-level to facilitate foot-traffic and movement of weapons/equipment. While they wouldn’t apply to theaters/stages and are perhaps not designed for modern technical activities, stadiums and arenas probably have similar elevated walkable ways around their perimeters.

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