A-Level Drama and Theatre Set Design Glossary

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Act Drop
Cloth flown in at the end of an act
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Backcloth
Flown cloth behind scenic element
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Back Projection
A method of projecting images onto a translucent screen from behind. Often used for projected scenery or special effects. Because the projector is usually close to the screen, special lenses are needed to ensure that the image seen by the audience is
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Bar
Metal tube used for hanging scenery
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Batten
Length of wood attached to cloth to keep it taut
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Book Flat
A hinged flat
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Border
Flown scenic element used in masking
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Box Set
A set with three walls and a ceiling, leaving the fourth wall to be imagined by the actors. The box set represents a real room with doors and windows that work.
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Brace
Portable support for flats
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Breaking Down
Artistic process of aging costume, props or scenery.
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Butterfly Tabs
Tabs fixed at top and drawn in from sides
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Carpenter
(Scenic, Deputy, Master): maker of scenery
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Centre Line
Imaginary line shown on ground-plan
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Cleat
Metal device used for tying sash line
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Cloth
A piece of scenic canvas, painted or plain, which is flown or fixed to hang in a vertical position. A Backcloth (or Backdrop) hangs at the rear of a scene. A Floorcloth is a painted canvas sheet placed on the stage floor to mark out the acting area
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Come Down
When the curtains come down
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Counterweights
System used for lowering and raising scenery
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Curtains
At front of stage - called Tabs
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Curtain up/down
Beginning and end of performance
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Cut Cloth
Scenic piece with no centre
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Cyclorama
A fabric drop hung from a curved or segmented batten, or a curved wall at the back of the stage, upon which light can be cast to create effects (cyc for short).
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Dead
Marked position of scenery or equipment
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Dock
Area at side/rear of stage for storing scenery
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Dress Rehearsal
Dress full costume/lighting/effects/sound/ action rehearsal
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Effect
Scenic
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Elevation
Technical drawing showing side view
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EMU
Electrical Multiple Unit, used to describe stage machinery composed from multiple moving parts
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False Pros'
Decorative proscenium arch
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Fit Up
Installation of equipment and scenery
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Flat
A wooden frame, usually covered with painted cloth, used to create walls or separations on stage.
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Flies
Area above stage where flown scenery is kept
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Floor-cloth
Painted canvas flooring
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Footing
To steady a ladder/flat with your foot
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Flown
Scenery or equipment which has been “flown” into the flies
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Fly
Raising scenery above audience sight level
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Flyman
Crew member operating flying equipment
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Fly Tower
Structure above stage containing flying equipment
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French Flat
Solid flat
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French Brace
Collapsible brace fixed to flat
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Gaffer Tape
Sticky back fabric tape
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Gauze
See ‘Scrim’
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Genie trap
A mechanised trap where actor shoots through stage floor
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Get In
When a touring company installs a show
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Get Out
When touring company uninstalls show
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Grave Trap
Body length trapdoor in stage
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Grid
Metal frames in flying tower from which flying equipment is held (wooden in very old theatres)
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Ground-plan
Technical drawing of stage
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Hand Props
Properties such as tools, weapons, or luggage that are carried on stage by an individual actor.
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Header
Horizontal flying piece horizontal flying piece
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Heads Below
Warning shouted if anything is dropped from above
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Hemp
Type of abrasive rope originally used in theatre for flying
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Hemp Flying
Traditional method of flying using 3 or 5 hemp ropes and no counterweights
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Iron
Fireproof metal curtain
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Ladder
Framework in shape of ladder
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Leg
Flown cloth or flat masking side of stage
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Light Set
A term used to describe a situation where no physical set is used on stage. The ‘set’ is created entirely by means of lighting.
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Lose
To remove from set
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Maquette
A model of the set intended for use by the builder as a guide to construction.
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Mark It
Instruction to record position of performer/object on stage
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Mark Out
Temporary objects/lines on rehearsal floor used to describe set/stage
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Mask
To hide from audience’s sight
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Masking
Flats/cloths used to Mask
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Model
Model of stage design
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Model Box
Model of theatre in which stage design model is housed
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Milliput
Type of modelling plastic used to create model figures and model scenery
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Out
Piece of scenery that has been flown “Out”
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Platform
Also referred to as a riser or rostrum it is a stationary, standard flat walking surface for actors to perform on. Typically, they are built to be assembled modularly. They are often used to provide varying levels.
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Pin Hinge
Hinge jointed by removable pin
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Practical
A working object onstage, such as a door or window
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Preset
Position of scenery and effects at start of performance and scene
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Props
abb. for Properties. Any items used onstage which are not costume or scenery; any moveable object that appears on stage during a performance.
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Prop Box / Skip
Place to store props
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Props Table
Table situated in wings on which props are placed
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Props Room
Room for construction of props
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Pyrotechnics
Bombs, bangs, flashes etc.
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Rigging
Fixing lighting, sound and scenic devices to the theatre structure
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Runner
Used to hold down carpet edges
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Scenery
The theatrical equipment, such as curtains, flats, backdrops, or platforms, used in a dramatic production to communicate environment.
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Scenic Artists
People who paint scenery
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Scrim (or gauze)
A drop made of fabric that seems almost opaque when lit from the front but semi-transparent when lit from behind.
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Set
The physical surroundings, visible to the audience, in which the action of the play takes place.
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Set Designer
The person who designs the physical surroundings in which the action of the play takes place.
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Setting Line
line past which no scenery, props or furniture may be set
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Size
glue like preparation made from animal bones, used to harden and preserve canvas on flats
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Spike
nail something to floor
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Stage Brace
extending support for scenery
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Stage Crew
employed to move/operate scenery
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Star Trap
a mechanised trap where actor shoots through stage floor
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Strike
to remove object or scenery from stage
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Swag
curtains fashioned so they do not hang straight
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Tabs
curtains
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Teaser
short flown border
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Treads
steps or stairs
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Tri-lite
lighting/scenic metal section made from three lengths of lightweight alloy (triangular construction
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Truck
Platform with wheels
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Workingg Drawings
Drawings made in addition to designers
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Backcloth

Back

Flown cloth behind scenic element

Card 3

Front

Back Projection

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Bar

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Batten

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

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