What is the time period called before a show begins while people are being seated?

What is the time period called before a show begins while people are being seated?
The technical term is pre-quaternary (pre meaning before and Quaternary the Latin term for entertainment) however Actors refer to it as 'Fag time'. This is because in the 1980's principle actors would use the time of people hustling and bustling in and out of the doors to their advantage and sneak into an alleyway for a forbidden cigar or 'fag'.


Please note that the word 'fag' does not have any connotations in English. It is simply and Englsh (British slang term for a cigarette)