lower part; foot; lower direction
General spatial term for the lower portion or direction of something. Often used in contrast with 上手 (かみて), 'upper part'.
There is a bridge downstream.
stage right (actor's POV); left part of the stage (audience's POV)
Theatrical term. From the audience's perspective, it is the left side of the stage; from the actor's perspective, it is the right side. Opposite of 上手 (かみて).
The actor entered from stage right.
上手 (うわて) means the upper part—upstream, or stage-right from the audience's view—while 下手 (しもて) is the exact opposite, the lower or downstream/stage-left side.
Standard kanji spelling for the reading しもて. Not to be confused with 下手 read へた, 'unskillful'.
Compound of 下 (しも, 'lower') + 手 (て, 'hand; direction'). The theatrical sense derives from the traditional stage layout where the lower-ranked side was stage right.