Technical Theatre and Theatrical Design

Introduction

Technical Theatre enhances the theatrical experience for both the audience and performer. This module will cover the basics of technical theatre and the design process and will explore in detail the area of scenic design. At the end of the module, you will be able to identify areas of theatrical design, basic elements of theatrical design, theatre spaces, and engage in the process of scenic design.

Key Terms

1. Costumes: Clothing that actors wear to help them portray a character.
2. Set: The scenery used on stage.
3. Scenic props: Properties placed onstage for the use of actors. Items used to dress the set, such as furniture, carpets, and lighting fixtures.
4. Hand props: Properties such as tools, weapons, or luggage, carried onstage by an individual player.
5. Ground/Floor Plan: A diagram on paper that shows the walls, doors, windows, furniture, and other important architectural details of the stage drawn to scale.
6. Elevation sketch: How the stage will look from a certain perspective.
7. Color Rendering: A colored elevation sketch.
8. Unit Set: A set made of several pieces, or units, which can be rearranged to produce more than one setting.
9. Box Set: Consists of two or three walls and perhaps a ceiling; it is the most common theatrical set.
10. Permanent Set: Remains in place throughout a production and elements may be added to the set to imply a change in scene, but the basic structure always remains the same.
11. Costume Designer: This person finds, makes and/or coordinates the costumes for the cast.
12. The Master Stitcher: The person who does the actual construction of the garment to be worn on stage. This person is also known as a tailor.
13. The Costume Crew: These are the people that help the Costume Designer and Master Stitcher to complete any tasks they need assistance with.
14. Makeup Artist: This is the person who collects all the makeup the cast will need. They also create a makeup plan for each member of the cast, and they carry out all special effects makeup plans.
15. Lighting Designer: This person develops a lighting plan and organizes the hanging of lighting instrument.
16. Master Electrician: This person makes the lighting plan happen, organizes the light hanging to get the lights hung and fully functional.
17. The Lighting Crew: These people assist the master electrician in installing lighting instruments.
18. Light Board Operator: This person is responsible for controlling the lights as the show is taking place live. This may be the same person as the designer, electrician, or a member of the crew.
19. Sound Designer: This person develops a sound plan and organizes the sound cue sheet and the distribution and connection of microphones, speakers, and sound equipment.
20. The Sound Crew: These people assist the sound designer in installing sound equipment.
21. Sound Board Operator: This person is responsible for controlling the sound as the show is taking place live. This may be the same person as the designer or a member of the crew.
22. Thumbnail Sketch: Rough draft or “first pass” at a design concept.
23. Ground Plan: View of the arrangement of set pieces on stage as seen from above. A “bird’s-eye-view” of the set. Not in color.
24. Rendering: View of the set design from the audience’s perspective. Colored or painted to show visual detail.
25. Model: A 3-D representation of the set, built to “scale.” Models can be either white models (unpainted) or finished models (painted).
26. Drafting: The “blueprints” for how the set pieces will be constructed. Designers can draft by hand or by using a computer (CAD).

Module Lessons Preview

In this module, we will study the following topics:

Theatre Spaces and Theatrical Design: Connecting the world of technical production and design to the theatre space. Exploring specific design areas in technical production.
Scenic Design: Understanding the role, function, and process of the scenic designer.
Critiquing Finished Works of Art: The purpose of artistic critique, critical virtues, and the process of critiquing finished works of art.

[CC BY 4.0] UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED | IMAGES: LICENSED AND USED ACCORDING TO TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION