Copy of `British Theatre Guide - Theatre info`

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

Truck
A rostrum or platform on wheels, on which scenery can be mounted so that it can be rolled into any position on-stage.

Turns
Theater slang for actors

Tweeter
A kind of loudspeaker (qv), which outputs a high frequency (qv) sound.

Twirlies
Theatre slang for dancers or chorus

Unidirectional
A type of microphone which will only pick up sounds from one direction, usually directly in front. Loosely used as a synonym for cardioid (qv).

Understudy
An actor playing a small part in a production or, in the professional theatre, often an Assistant Stage Manager, who has learned and rehearsed the part of one of the leading actors to take over from him/her in the event of illness etc.

Upstage
At the back of the stage; away from the audience. As a verb: when one actor deliberately draw the attention of the audience to himself for purely selfish purposes.

USL
Upstage left.

USR
Upstage right.

VT
Video tape. VTR refers to the Video Tape Recorder, the machine.

Wardrobe Mistress
(Usually Wardrobe Mistress: much less frequently Wardrobe Master) Responsible for the making (under the direction of the Designer), repair and washing of all costumes.

Wet Sound
Sound which has been adjusted by a signal processor (qv)

Wings
The sides of the stage, out of sight of the audience, where actors stand before making their entrance, and where props are kept, ready to be brought onto the stage.

Wireless Mic
See radio mic.

XLR
A type of connector for sound equipment. Nowadays almost all but the very cheapest microphones use these rather than jacks. Now becoming more common on all kinds of sound equipment. Mics which require phantom powering (qv) must have XLR connectors: one terminal carries the signal, one is a shield, and the third carries the phantom power current.

G-clamp
Used for fastening lanterns to a bar. A G-shaped piece of metal with a screw throught the bar of the G which clamps to the lighting bar.