‘Staging’ a live production involves the skills and talents of a number of people. Below is a list of those common to a live theatre production split into categories. When thinkingabout staging a show, you must take into consideration the needs of all of these roles and departments. In smaller production companies, some of the roles in the following list may not exist for budget reasons, or two or more roles may be assumed by one person. 

This is a key position in any production. The role has the dual function of assistant to the director and production staff during the rehearsal period and then becomes the person in charge of the production during the actual performance. In larger productions, the stage manager will have a team that includes a ‘deputy stage manager’ who will take on the role of calling the show to allow the stage manager to more closely monitor everything else to do with staging the production and an ‘assistant stage manager’ who is often in charge of sourcing and running Properties during the run of a show as well as being a member of the stage ‘crew’.

In most community productions the stage manager does most of these roles: calls rehearsals, is the liaison between the performers, crew and the director and ‘calls’ the cues during a performance.  

These persons are part of the production’s creative team who works with the director to create the scenic 'look' for the stage throughout the show and any accompanying props. He or she sometimes also designs the costumes.

This person can either be part of the company, or an outside contractor who is responsible to build the set based on using drawings created by the set designer.

Also known as a Props Master or Mistress. This person is responsible for all the ‘props’ to be used in the production. They will assist in designing the props, sourcing the props and if required, have the props built. The properties manager works closely with the set and stage designers and the directors.  

These persons are skilled at painting scenes on scenic cloths or flats. They work closely with both set designers and set builders. They often have skills in art or painting and decorating and often work on plays or theatre productions to produce scenes that may reflect different periods or locations in the world. 

This is a role in larger productions and is a person who is responsible for setting up the stage using the props and furniture that are required on the set.

These are persons who operate mechanical equipment in a theatre. The more skilled roles are those of a ’flyman or fly woman' who operate complex set ’fly systems’. Crew members who are trained in moving sets using revolving stages, stage lifts and other mechanical equipment are often referred to as a ’mechanist’.  

Also known as stage technicians, stagehands are crew members who assist on sets. They work in theatres, helping with lighting, sound, props, and general scenery. Stagehands also set up equipment and sometimes help performers get into costume. Duties may vary based on the size and type of production. 

The majority of venues have in house or venue crew.  Small venues may just have a venue manager who also works as in house crew.  But most venues have at least one full time employee who oversees the technical aspects of the venue.  This person is known as a TOD (technician on duty).  Even if a venue hirer is bringing in their own technical crew, they still have to pay for a TOD.  The TOD assists the external crew with venue information and monitors ensures that the venue equipment is used correctly, often monitoring noise levels.

A larger venue will have a larger crew, often with a technician in each specialist area, lighting, audio, vision, staging and front of house management.

A theatre Producer oversees all aspects of a theatre production. They are the starting point of everything. They raise investment from backers, find the venue, hire the creative team and have a say in casting and design. Their role and duties change constantly. 

The Production Assistant assists and supports all production and artistic operations. During rehearsals and performances the Production Assistant serves as a point of contact for the Artistic Director, Stage Manager, Stage Crew, Artists, Front of House Staff, Designers, Recording Engineers and other verndors. 

*This role will be outlined further in an upcoming lesson.

In a touring production the cast and crew are known as the ’company’. The company manager is responsible for the well-being of the cast and crew of the show; ensuring their arrival at the venue, manages payroll, dealing with any disputes and many other administrative duties.  

Theatre Managers have a diverse role that oversees the smooth operational running of the theatre. Tasks can range from coordinating the programme calendar and attracting donations to increasing the theatre's visibility in the community and managing its budget. 

There are numerous types of directors, all dependent on the size and type of production. Generally a ‘Director’ is the person responsible for the overall artistic vision of the production. Theatre directors have responsibility for the practical and creative interpretation of a dramatic script or musical score.  

Working closely with other members of a show’s creative team, musical directors, often referred to as the MD, oversee all musical aspects of a musical theatre or opera production, including casting performers, hiring the orchestra, rehearsing singers and orchestra members, and conducting the orchestra in performance. 

This person is responsible for the clothes worn by the actors throughout the performance. In conjunction with the director, the costumer designer works out what is required for the production, designs the costumes and then sources the costumes from existing inventory, hires costumer, purchases costumes or has them made. 

A Choreographer creates original dance movements and routines for performances and productions. They also develop different interpretations of existing dances for an individual dancer or group of dancers (chorus). 

This person has the responsibility for planning and executing the layout of all sound playback and reinforcement equipment for the performances. This role also includes the sourcing of music and sound effects for the production.

Also known as the ‘sound engineer’. These persons would work with the sound designers and ensure from a technical point of view, that the production has the suitable sound equipment installed to translate the artistic values of the sound design.

The lighting designer is responsible for the overall look of the lighting and is responsible for liaising with the director about style and with the set and costume designers about rig. The lighting designer will create a lighting plan to show the position of all lighting instruments. Later, during rehearsals the lighting designing working with the director will determine lighting levels and lighting cues. 

This is a senior position of the production’s stage lighting team. This role in smaller productions could include being the ’lighting designer’. The chief electrician in larger productions manages the rigging and maintenance of the lighting system with a lighting crew. Chief electricians can also be hired by the venue and manages the electrical system including listing grids for the venue. 

As part of the production team (especially in the initial stages) would be tradespersons hired or contracted that are not specifically part of the live production industries.  

The common trades hired or contacted include: 

• Carpenters

• Electricians

• Plumbers (for stage water features)

• Painters

• Welders and metal fabricators

• Seamstress

These tradespersons could be involved in staging components or elements that are built in a workshop and then brought to the venue for installation. This is often the case for timber components and metal structures. 

Welding metalwork is often too dangerous to do on the stage so this is often done in a workshop and then mechanically assembled at the venue.  

In groups of 3-4, create a visual representation of your choosing that outlines all the above personnel and how they fit into the scheme of a production. For example, you may have may have a branch of your chart lead by the Stage Manager and uderneath that you would have DSM and ASM as well as mechanists and stage hands. 

Pictures right is an example of what a chart might look like. Be careful not to copy this chart exactly beacuse there are roles missing from the list above and extra roles that are not part of this lesson, but it might help you get started. Try to be as visually appealing as possible so that we can put them up on the wall.