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 renders it as a clean manuscript. Start in the Web Editor, preview pages as you write, and export a PDF when you are ready.
Why
A better fit than a word processor
If Fountain feels too screenplay-shaped 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 if you want the easiest way to choose between the Web Editor, VS Code, and the command line.
Workflow
Write, preview, export
Write
Draft the play in plain text without wrestling with formatting controls.
Preview
See pages update in the Web Editor or VS Code when you want feedback while drafting.
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.
Docs
Reference when you need it
The full reference, examples, and syntax guide live in the docs.