Building A Set

What follows is a collection of photos taken during the construction of one of our sets. Click on any photo to see the bigger version.

A lot of team work and ‘fun’ goes into the setting up of a set.
First we need to bring in all the ‘flats’. In short these are the walls you see during the play. We do our best to set up the flats in line with the requirements of the play. If the play calls for a lounge and a kitchen, thats what you get!

Windows are always fun because they’re see through. And lets face it you don’t want to see us racing behind the windows during the play. Then comes the doors. Yep those ever opening! doors. The trick is to get them to stay closed when you close them. Unless of course the play is about a ghost who keeps opening the doors during the play…..
or maybe we have a ghost after all? who knows?

Then it’s up the ladder and don’t forget to charge that cordless drill!
Before too long the set starts to take shape. Next comes the furniture and before too long were ready to ‘dress up the set’. That’s when you bring out the posters, flowers, cups, bottles etc. Otherwise known as props….No that’s props not prompts… Sorry guys theres no prompting here, best go learn your lines….

Then if we’ve been really good we get to do one more rehersal before we go home. Yipee!
We put the ladders away and get ready to do a ‘run through’. Actually this is when “lights and sound’ do their ‘thing’. This is when ‘it all comes together’. By now the play is only one week from performance night. All the bugs are soon worked out and the show goes on.

At the end of closing night, we ‘bump out’, just take the whole process and play it in reverse and that’s pretty much how it all happens. No, we don’t get to unlearn our lines….. ‘Bump out’ usually takes about 1 hour or so depending on the size of the set. Then it’s back to one of the cast or crew’s house for ‘MUNCHIES AND DRINKS’ We try to make it an early night ( early as in just before the sun comes up ..ha ha. ) All in all we have a good time and because of that so does the audience. Which let’s face it this is why we are here. Then after the ‘morning after’ recovery we have a two week rest and then it’s back to those lines again for the next play.
Sounds like fun doesn’t it?