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British Theatre Guide - Theatre info Category: Arts > Theatre terms Date & country: 26/04/2012, UK Words: 216

Apron
In a traditional theatre, the part of the stage which projects in front of the curtain. In many theatres this can be extended, sometimes by building out over the pit (qv).

Assistant Director
Assists the Director (qv). In many ways the job varies according to the director and the assistant, but it may involve taking some rehearsals, arranging rehearsal calls...

Assistant Stage Manager
(ASM) Generally deals with props and will do certain cues during the show that are specifically to do with props, onstage effects and so on. ASMs tend to do cues that involve more direct contact with the cast because the cast will know them from the rehearsal period.

Auditorium
The part of the theatre in which the audience sits. Also known as the House.

Aux
Abbreviation for auxiliary: an output on a sound mixing desk which sends a signal to an exterior unit, such as a signal processor (qv).

Auxiliary Return
An input on a sound mixing desk through which the signal is returned to the mix (qv) after processing by an exterior unit, such as a signal processor (qv).

Backing Flat
A flat (qv) which stands behind a window or door in the set (qv).

Banjo
Not the musical instrument! A rail along which a curtain runs.

Bar
An aluminium pipe suspended over the stage on which lanterns are hung. These are usually designated either FoH (front of house) bars or onstage bars. They will normally be further referred to as no. 1 bar, no. 2 bar, etc. Also the place where you will find actors after the show - the stage crew will still be working!

Barn Door
An arrangement of four metal leaves placed in front of the lenses of fresnel spotlights (qv) to control the shape of the light beam.

Bass Cab
(Cab = cabinet) Loudspeakers (qv) which relay only low frequencies.

Bastard Prompt
See Corner.

Battern
A long row of floodlights (qv), wired as three or four circuits.

Beam Spread
Lighting term: the area that the beam from a given lantern covers. It is usually expressed as the angle that the beam subtends at the focal plane: the smaller the angle, the narrower the beam. For example, a 16-30 profile spot will have a beam spread varying from 16

Beamlight
Lighting term: a type of lantern which produces a parallel beam of light. In construction rather like a car headlamp, being a sealed-beam unit. Also known as a parcan or parblazer.

Blacklight
Ultra-violet light. Can be in bulb or, more usually, tube form.

Blackout
Lighting term: switching all lights out at once, leaving the stage in complete darkness. See also DBO.

Blacks
Black curtains at the back and sides of the stage. Also ther black clothing worn by stage crew so that they don't attract attention to themselves during scene changes when house tabs are either not used or not there!

Blocking
The setting of the actors' positions and moves at the beginning of rehearsals. Occasionally known as plotting, a term usually reserved for use in lighting.

Board
Another name for a control desk, either lighting (most usually) or sound.

Boundary Zone Mics
A type of condenser mic (qv), usually on the floor of the stage at the front, which picks up everything happening onstage but able to filter out low frequencies, such as thsoe produced by footsteps.

Break
A movement made by an actor, when the direction of travel is changed: i.e. the actor breaks down left, makes a sudden movement donstage left.

Build
Lighting term: the gradual increasing of brightness, as, for example, in a song the brightness might build from 80% to full by the end.

Cans
Headphones

Cast
The list of characters in a play and the actors who play them. Also, as a verb, to allocate parts to members of a company.

Cheat
To make an action on stage look realistic without actually doing what you seem to be doing; e.g. an actor looking towards the audience in the general direction of the person he is talking to, is cheating.

Chief Electrician
(Usually abbreviated to Chief LX) He is head of the department which is responsible for the maintenance and rigging of the lighting, and the operation of the lighting plot. In act, he is usually responsible for the maintenance and repair of anything electrical in the theatre, from the stage lighting to the light in the gent's toilet! His crew are variously known as LX, electrical daymen, electrics crew, etc..

Choreographer
Devises and rehearses the dance routines, following the concept laid down by the Director (qv).

Cinemoid
A (now discontinued) brand name for a lighting gel or filter. Still used by old-timers (like me!) generically.

Cloth
Backdrop scenery painted on fabric. Cloths can be on a banjo (qv) (usually in the amateur theatre), can be rolled up, or can be flown (qv).

Colour Changer
A remotely controlled means of changing a coloured filter over the lens of a lantern. There are three kinds: a wheel with three or four lens-sized holes into which different coloured gells can be slipped, a semaphore (like the old- fashioned railway signals) and a scroller which uses continuous, usually dichroic, filters. Scrollers (qv) are the preferred option in the modern theatre.

Colour Frame
A frame which fits over the front of a lantern to held a coloured filter or gel. They can be made from metal (preferred) or a kind of cardboard.

Company Manager
While the stage manager deals with what happens on stage, the company manager's job is to look after everything that happens off-stage.

Condenser Mic
A type of microphone which requires power (either battery or, more usually, phantom power (qv)) to run it. Condenser mics are generally more sensitive than dynamics (qv) and are more usually used for recording than for stage. However, because of their sensitivity, they do have some stage uses (see Boundary Zone Mics, PZM, shotgun mics).

Counterweight
A method of flying (qv) in which weights are used to balance the load being carried on the wire fly lines, so that brute strength is not needed by the flyman (qv)

Cross Fade
Lighting term: fading one lantern (or group of lanterns) up while fading another down.

Crossover
Sound: a unit which splits sound into different frequency ranges for sending to different types of loudspeaker (qv).

CSI
Compact Source Iodide: a type of discharge lamp, usually used in follow-spots, which, although very small (often no bigger than a finger nail), gives a very bright, white light. A 2K CSI lamp will give the same power as a 5K tungsten. These are, needless to say, very expensive.

Cue
An instruction given by the Stage Manager to one of the technical departments to take some action; e.g. LX cue 7 is the seventh instruction in the play to the lighting department. Also used in the sense of the point at which an actor must enter or speak.

Cut-out
A free-standing piece of scenery, e.g.a tree, cut out of board into the correct shape and painted.

Cyclorama
Also known as a cyc. Normally a very large piece of white fabric, tensioned on two or more sides, which covers the entire back wall of the stage. It can be lit in various colours or have slides or gobos (qv) projected onto it. Some theatres - the Yvonne Arnaud in Guildford, for example - have plaster cycs.

DAT
Sound recording term: digital audio tape. A very high quality audio recording method in which sound is digitally recorded on tape (often video S-VHS tapes are used). Now generally superceded by CD or mini-disk.

DBO
Lighting term. Dead blackout: a sudden, instantaneous switching off of all lights.

Decibel
A measurement of sound intensity. It is not an absolute measure, but measures differing levels relative to each other. Can also be used to measure electrical power. It is a logarithmic measure, with an increase of three decibels indicating a doubling of intensity. A difference of 10dB means the sound is ten times the original, whereas a difference of a million times would be just 60dB!

Deputy Stage Manager
(DSM) The deputy to the Stage Manager (qv). He usually sits on the book (qv) and is therefore responsible for the minute by minute running of the show.

Designer
Designs all aspects of the production: set, costumes, wigs, make-up etc., unless there are separate designers for costumes, wigs etc.. Not, however, usually responsible for lighting design, although he will work closely with the Lighting Designer (qv).

DI Box
Direct Injection Box. A means of taking a sound signal straight from an electronic instrument, such as an electric guitar, to the mixer of a sound system. The instrument is plugged into a jack socket in a small box which is connected to the mixer.

Dips
Electrical sockets set into the floor of either the stage or the wings (qv), and, usually, covered by little trapdoors. Usually used for lanterns (qv) on stands, but can also power other equipment such as smoke machines.

Director
In control of all aspects of the production.(S)he develops the concept of the production, briefs the designer and lighting designer, plots the actor's moves, rehearses the actors, etc. etc. etc.. Each of these, of course, has his/her own creative input and wise directors (and the best are very wise!) listens carefully to what they have to say. At the end of the day, however, the final word goes to the director.

DMX
A protocol for sending instructions to dimmers (qv) or intelligent lights (qv) from a lighting control desk. There are a number of different DMX protocols but the most used in modern theatre is DMX-512. The path taken by a DMX instruction is called a channel.

Doubling
One actor taking more than one part in a play.

Downstage
Towards the audience.

Dramaturg
(Pronounced drama-turj) A person who works alongside writers to develop their plays for performance. Although not necessarily a writer him/herself, a dramaturg is skilled in knowing what will or will not work on stage. Performs much the same function as a publisher's editor.

Dress
Abbreviation for Dress Rehearsal: the rehearsal immediately before the first night when all costumes, technical effects, props etc. are used, often for the first time. As close to an actual performance as it is possible to be without an audience present.

Dresser
One whose job it is to help an actor (or actors) in quick changes of costume. They also (I am told by one who has been one) often do laundry and ironing and starching and pressing and steaming for hours, and hours, and hours. They sew on buttons, mend torn clothing, remove stage-blood stains, polish boots, hang up costumes at the end of the evening when the actor has run off to the pub. They also fetch sandwiches in the interval, offer comfort and reassurance, run to the shops for their actors between shows so the actors can have a lie down. Dressers make a lot of tea and coffee, too.

Dry Sound
Term used to describe the sound which is input into a signal processor (qv), before processing. The processed sound is known as wet sound.

DSL
Down stage left: towards the front of the stage on the left-hand side as you look at the audience.

DSR
Down stage right.

Dynamic Mic
The usual vocalist's microphone: rugged and able to take heavy use (and even heavy knocks!). Mainly used very close to the mouth. The movement of a rubber diaphragm produces a small electric current which is carried back to the mixer/amplifier (qv).

Effects Spot
A spotlight (qv) which projects a slide, or a still or moving picture, i.e. of rain or clouds, onto the stage or, more usually, the cyclorama.

EQ
Abbreviation of Graphic Equaliser (qv). Can also be used as a verb

Fade
Sound and lighting term: to increase (fade up), decrease (fade down) or eliminate (fade out) gradually the brightness of a lantern or the volume of a sound.

Fader
Part of a lighting or sound desk: by moving a fader up, the volume of the sound or intensity of the light is increased. Comversely, moving it down decreases voluem or intensity.

Feedback
An unwanted sound which is produced by the sound from a loudspeaker feeding into a mic and then back through the loudspeaker, creating a loop. It is a very unpleasant sound, sometimes - very appropriately - known howlround.

Fit up
Not something done by the police (allegedly!), but actually building up the set (qv) on-stage.

Flash Button
Many lighting desks have a series of buttons to which indidiual channels (or groups of channels) can be allocated. When the button is pressed, the lanterns on those channels flash on.

Flat
An oblong frame of timber, covered with either canvas or hardboard and painted, which forms part of the set. There are also door flats, window flats, even fireplace flats. Canvas flats, being lighter and easier to move around, are the preferred option, but schools and touring companies often go for hardboard-covered flats which are more hardwearing.

Flight Case
A protective case for transporting delecate electronic gear. The larger flight cases are on castors for ease of movement.

Floats
A rather old-fashioned term for Footlights (qv).

Flood
A floodlight: a lantern which gives a wide-spreading, unfocused beam of light. These can be symmetric (i.e. casting the light equally in all directions) or asymmetric (casting it more in one direction than the others). The symmetric flood is probably the cheapest stage lantern - and the least useful!

Focus
Verb used in lighting: to point the lanterns (qv) in the right direction and set the correct beam-spread and edge.

Foldback
The process of returning the amplified sound to the stage so that the performers can hear themselves. Rarely used in straight plays: essential for musical work of all kinds. Special foldback monitors are needed which much less likely to feed into the mics to produce feedback (qv).

French Brace
A means of suppporting a flat (qv)

French Flat
A flat (qv) which is flown in on a bar. Also known as a French or a Frenchman.

Frequency
The rate per second of a vibrating wave, such as a sound wave. The higher the frequency, the higher the sound. Frequency is measured in hertz or kilohertz (1,000 hertz) (as are radio frequencies).

Fresnel
A kind of spotlight (qv) in which the light is concentrated by a fresnel lens (a lens with concentric ridged rings). Projects a variable angle soft-edged beam. Sometimes called a fr

FX
Effects: usually sound effects in the theatre but can also refer to pyrotchnics (qv). In film, usually refers to visual (i.e. computer generated) effects.

Gaffa Tape
(Sometimes in the US called duct tape) A fabric-based sticky tape (black or silver in colour) which is used to fasten down cables temporarily and for 1001 other uses in theatre. Its big advantage is that, although it adheres firmly to most surfaces, it can be removed without causing any damage to the surface, unlike, for example, sellotape. Utterly invaluable!

Gain
A kind of rough sensititivy control for an incoming sound channel on a mixer.

Gauze
A loosely-woven cloth (qv) on which a scene can be painted. When lit from the front, it is opaque and only the painted scene is seen; when lit from behind, however, it becomes transparent. Commonly used in pantomime. There are different kinds of gauzes, but the one used for the effect mentioned is shark's tooth gauze. The American term is Scrim.

Gel
A filter placed over the front of a lantern to change the colour of the light.

Genie
Proprietry name for a motorised tallescope (qv).

Gobo
A piece of metal or glass, which fits into the gate of a profile spot (qv) and projects a pattern onto the set. Gobos can be very complex. They are first fitted into a gobo holder. Holders vary in size (each type of lantern requires a different size), although the gobos themselves are of a standard size. Most basic gobos are made of metal but very complex patterns can be created on glass gobos.

Grams
A term little used nowadays, it originated (I think!) in radio. It means sound equipment and/or the sound department (from - obviously! - gramophone).

Grand Master
The master fader on a lighting control desk which controls all the other faders. No matter what position the other faders are in, if the Grand Master is set to zero, they do not function. If another fader is set to 50% and the GM is at 100%, then the lanterns controlled by that fader will be at 50%; if the GM is set at 50%, then the other fader's lanterns will be at 25%.

Graphic Equaliser
Or EQ. A unit which cuts or boosts sounds in a particular frequency range. The equivalent on domestic equipment is a tone control. Most graphic equalisers have sliders to control 32 distinct frequency bands and there will be two sets of sliders, one for each stereo channel. As a verb, to EQ means to set the equalisation to produce the best and clearest sound for a particular venue.

Greenroom
A room backstage, occasionally licensed, in which the company can sit and relax before, during or after a show. There'll always be a kettle there, if nothing else! Not as common as they used to be.

Grid
The main structure above the stage which supports the flying bars: usually made from steel or, usually in older theatres, wood.

Groundrow
A battern (qv) placed on the floor of the stage, usually to light a cyclorama (qv). Also occasionally used to mean freestanding scenery, of a low height, running along the back of the stage in front of the back wall or cyclorama.

Half (The)
Half an hour before the first actors are due on stage (i.e. 35 minutes before the show begins). All actors must be in their dressing rooms by the Half. Traditionally the audience is allowed into the auditorium at that point. Traditionally too, the House Manager blows a whistle in the auditorium to announce the Half.

Header
A type of flat that tops off the scenery (usually flown).

Hemp
Or hemp lines. A methiod of flying (qv) using rope (hemp) and sheer strength

Hertz
A unit of measurement of frequency (qv)

Horn
A type of loudspeaker (qv), used for mid to high frequency sounds. Musicans also use the term to refer to their instruments (usually brass instruments but occasionally woodwind too).

House
See FoH.

House Manager
In charge of everything which happens front of house (FoH (qv)): box office, ushers/usherettes, the bars, cash, etc..

House Tabs
The curtains across the front of the stage.

Howlround
See feedback

Induction Loop
See Loop

Ingenue
Old fashioned term for the female juvenile lead.