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Develop knowledge and skills in the basic technical elements of production staging
Develop knowledge and skills in the basic technical elements of production staging
Student VET entertainment resource developed by The Arts Unit
Years 11 and 12 VET entertainment
What will I learn?
What will I learn?
You will:
discover various staging elements and machinery
explore staging process and procedures
learn about stage production documentation
Festival of Choral Music 2019 - Sydney Opera House
- Equipment and machinery
Staging elements used in productions
Staging elements used in productions
flats
furniture
set items
props
scenery (framed, non-weight bearing, soft, weight bearing)
scenic art
sets
trucks (stage platforms on wheels)
backdrops
visual display screens
Watch the video 'Wicked scenery: Design concept' to see the process of how the designer's concept is put on stage.
Wicked scenery: Design concept
Duration: 03:59Task:
Task:
In each of the following images below, identify as many of the staging elements listed above.
Flats
Flats
A flat is one of the most common pieces of set used in theatre. they can be used for many purposes, incuding for masking, walls, windows, dorrs and profiles. Framed flats are usually constructed from timber. A framed flat has a greater variety of uses compared to unframed scenery.
Watch the video 'How to build theatre masking flats'.
How to build theatre masking flats
Duration: 04:20
Connecting flats is required for many reasons in productions and can be done through the use of:
battens
lashing
nails or screws
hinges (loose or fixed pin)
The movement of flats is made easier with the use of caster wheels or they can be flown if the theatre has a fly tower.
Stage machinery
Stage machinery
Technology in theatre means stage scenery can be operated manually or be automated.
Common machinery used in productions includes
Revolves
Traps
Lifts
Fly system
Automated tracking
When operating any piece of stage equipment or machinery it is essential that communication signals and devices are used to ensure the safe and effective use during their operation.
Fly tower system
Task:
Task:
Watch the following 6 videos exploring fly systems, lifts, traps, automation and revolves.
Create a detailed summary of each example of stage machinery and how they are used in a production.
The final video reveals a time lapse of the 'West Side Story' bump in to demonstrate how all the staging elements are put together on the stage.
Theater fly system
Duration: 02:18A whole new world ... behind the curtain
Duration: 02:11Stage automation engineer
Duration: 07:27The drum revolve in action
Duration: 00:55Underwater stage lifts for 'Le Reve'
Duration: 04:16West side story set design time lapse
Duration: 06:352. Processes and procedures
2. Processes and procedures
Assembling, positioning and/or laying different set pieces and floor types
Assembling, positioning and/or laying different set pieces and floor types
The stage technician will install the floor, including any traps, revolves and tracks shown on the stage plan.
After the floor has been installed, it is laid up. This means covering it in the material chosen by the set designer, and specified on the stage plan, this can include:
floor cloths: a padded material (usually canvas) which is usually painted as a part of the scenery
tarkett: a linoleum-type surface that dancers dance on
carpet: rolls or tiles are a simple and effective way of laying up the floor.
masonite: engineered wood used to resurface the stage floor for painting
vinyl: PVC floor covering used to create various set floor designs
Schools Spectacular tarkett floor
Photo credit: Anna Warr
Marking out a stage
Marking out a stage
The stage manager or member of the stage crew uses ‘mark up’ tape to mark out the boundaries of the stage area and where each set element will be placed. The SM will use the scale floor plan provided by the set designer to accurately mark out the stage area and where each set piece will be located.
Marks on the floor are often called 'deads'. They mark where all the sets, props and performers are going to go. They mark exact positions for:
flats that are lowered and raised for each scene
scenery that is pushed on and off on trolleys or castors
performer positions
VET student crew mark up the floor at Schools Spectacular
Watch the video 'Stage management' to see how the marking out process occurs.
Stage Management
Duration: 07:07Task:
With your classmates:
measure your school stage space.
using the measurements, mark out the stage area in an outside environment.
Cleaning and clearing performance spaces and work areas
Cleaning and clearing performance spaces and work areas
The stage should be swept or mopped before every performance to prevent injury to the actors or performers.
During a performance when there is a lot of activity in and around the stage and theatre it is important to have clear areas and walkways to move through. The wings need to be accessible for actor’s entrances and exits or to move set and/or props on and off stage, and the dressing rooms are needed for quick changes.
It is important that you leave a theatre the way you found it, clean and clear from all rubbish and equipment. This includes the dressing rooms, wings, orchestra pit and the stage.
Packing, storing and transporting staging equipment
Packing, storing and transporting staging equipment
When moving set components, planning ahead is important. Assistance may be required when the items requiring moving are too heavy for one person or may require machinery to lift or move. Planning and communication will avoid delays or disruption to the overall project. Depending on the type of elements or materials being handed, special personal safety equipment may also be needed.
Most material handling equipment requires fully trained and certified operators, so not only would the equipment need to be available but also the operator.
It is essential to have a clear understanding of any transport needs to avoid any damage and ensure effective time management, these include:
size of equipment being transported
quality of equipment requiring transportation
specific loading and unloading requirements
timelines in line with the production schedule, including load and unloading sequencing.
Watch the video 'Les Troyens - From the workshop to the Royal Opera House'.
Les Troyens - From the workshop to the Royal Opera House
Duration: 06:033. Props
3. Props
A prop or property property, is defined as any object used on stage by actors during a performance that is movable or portable on the stage or a set.
Watch the video 'Prop manager' to explore the process of properties in a stage production from a professional props manager.
Prop manager
Duration: 07:11PROPS - (Properties) Furnishings, set dressings, and all items large and small which cannot be classified as scenery, electrics or wardrobe. Props handled by actors are known as hand props, props which are kept in an actors costume are known as personal props.
PROPS TABLE - Table in convenient offstage area on which properties are prepared prior to a performance and to which they should be returned after use.
PROPS INVENTORY – A detailed list of props required for a production, their location and condition before and after use in the production. This is often prepared by a Deputy Stage Manager or Properties Manger.
Props table
Task:
Watch the performance of 'It's a hard knock life' from Annie the musical.
Identify all the props used in this item and discuss how they contribute to the establishment of setting.
It's a hard knock life (Annie)
Duration: 03:364. Documentation
4. Documentation
Stage plans
Stage plans
Stage floor plans are used to show the layout of the venue. These plans are drawn to scale, often using a in 1:50 scale or 1:100 scale.
They may also include the theatre auditorium seating areas, loading docks, stage door entrance, workshop areas and rehearsal spaces.
Using the stage plan, designers can design the set, sound, lights and vision systems. Set designers use ground or floor plans of the stage as a template. They are then able to place scale drawings of scenic items and props on the template to show the director and the set builder. The set builder will also be given an ‘elevation’ which is a plan showing the set from a side view, with the height of each set piece clearly indicated.
Today plans are mostly produced in a Computer Aided Drawing (CAD) program such as AutoCAD rather than hand drawn.
Key stage plans inclusions:
performance space measurements and dimensions
setting line
centre line
entrances/exits
site lines
sets
fly bars
masking
wings.
Prompt copy
Prompt copy
For a stage production, the master copy of the script or score is known as the prompt copy. It is the stage manager's script and contains all the actor moves and technical cues. It also contains all the relevant information for the production, including contact lists, venue information, show information, emergency procedures, show reports and so on. It is commonly referred to as the 'bible' of a show.
It is created and used throughout rehearsals and used by the stage manager to control the performance as they call the cues for the show.
A prompt copy is usually laid out so that the script is on one side of a folder or book, and the cues are on the opposite side. These cues included could be actor blocking, lighting, sound, props, set, vision, pyrotechnics and follow spot.
Prompt copy example
Production run sheet
Production run sheet
A production run sheet is used in a variety style production where they are muliple items making up the performance. A school MADD night, dance, drama or music festival concert are examples of this style of performance.
The document records a summary of all the relevant technical information required for the show to run smoothly. This is used by the production crew to coordinated the technical elements throughout the performance.
Production run template.docxProduction run sheet example
Stage Manager - show calling
Stage Manager - show calling
In productions with a stage manager, they will call the technical cues, including lighting, audio, vision, staging, fly, pyrotechnic and actor with the specific action or dialogue by saying:
LX cue 15 ... GO.
'LX cue 15' would be said before the cue and then the lighting operator will activate lighting cue 15 on the word 'GO'.
There may also be a ‘standby’ call before the upcoming cue or group of cues to alert all crew before the actual cue is called.
Cues and standby's may also be grouped together when required to ensure all cues are activated in synchronisation.
The video 'Footloose - tech crew perspectives' demonstrates how the stage manager calls the cues are called in a production.
Footloose - Tech crew perspectives
Duration: 05:20Third-party content attributions
Third-party content attributions
Festival of Choral Music, 2019, photographer: Anna Warr.
Schools Spectacular images, 2018-2019, photographer: Anna Warr.
Entertainment Industry Curriculum Framework Stage 6 Syllabus, © NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) for and on behalf of the Crown in right of the State of New South Wales, 2020, copied under s113P, accessed 30 July 2020.
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