Technical Theatre Terminology

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Across
  1. 2. Line – Any rope or cable located between a load and a winch or counterweight arbor.
  2. 4. Stage – A sloped platform that is lower near the audience for better visibility and higher at the rear, providing the illusion of distance. This is the source for the terms “Down Stage” and “Upstage.”
  3. 5. Pocket – A slot, usually of fabricated steel, that supports a guide system at the edges of a fire safety curtain and that helps to prevent smoke from passing around the edges of the curtain.
  4. 9. Line – A line, usually rope, that is pulled by hand to lift or control the movement of a load.
  5. 10. Load – That part of a system that may be added or deleted (i.e., lights hung from a pipe batten.)
  6. 11. Block – A pulley mounted to the gridiron or support steel that supports and changes the direction of a lift line cable between the load and the head block.
  7. 13. Loft – The space between the roof and the performance area that is not visible to the audience
  8. 16. Batten – Two or more pipes or other linear members fabricated together with cross bracing in a trussed configuration. Used in place of a pipe batten for heavy loads or extended distances between lift lines.
  9. 19. – (1) Curtains at the rear of the performance area used to represent the sky or distant areas. (2) Set of borders, legs, and drops used to define the limits of a performance area.
  10. 20. Block – A pulley mounted to support steel that changes the direction of lift and operating lines between the loft blocks and an arbor or winch.
  11. 21. Purchase – A rope or cable that passes from a lifting device (arbor, winch, or person) over a block, to a block attached to the load, and tied off at the previous block, is double purchased. The system allows twice as much load to be raised for a given effort, but the rope or cable must be pulled twice as far, so total work done remains the same.
  12. 23. – A bar, usually made from steel pipe, from which scenery, lights and curtains are hung.
  13. 25. – A carriage or rack that contains weights, usually flame cut steel or cast iron, in sufficient quantity to balance a load.
  14. 26. Purchase – A rope or cable passing from a lifting device (arbor, winch, or person) over a block, or series of blocks, to a load is single purchased. Force must be exerted equal to the load to be held or raised.
  15. 27. (Grid) – An open floor, usually made from light steel channels or grating, that is located near the roof steel. It provides mounting locations for rigging equipment and access to that equipment for inspection and maintenance.
  16. 28. – The portion of the stage area located to either side of the acting area.
Down
  1. 1. Curtain – A curtain that closes automatically in event of a fire to prevent heat, smoke and flames on the stage from reaching the audience.
  2. 3. Chain – A length of chain placed between a lift line and a pipe batten or scenic element to connect them and to facilitate minor height adjustment of the load.
  3. 5. Bar – A support rail, usually of wood or plastic, that keeps cables from sagging over a horizontal span due to their own weight. Sag Bars don’t carry any loads.
  4. 6. Pit – A depressed area between the stage and audience seating area where musicians sit, so the audience can hear the music and see the performance over the heads of the musicians.
  5. 7. Block – Pulley mounted at the floor to hold a rope or cable in position and to reverse its direction. Floor blocks meant for rope often incorporate a means of adjustment to accommodate changes in length due to loads or environmental conditions.
  6. 8. – The act of lifting scenery, lights, and curtains.
  7. 12. The portion of the auditorium on the main floor that is closest to the musicians and the acting area.
  8. 14. Bridge A gallery above the stage floor where technicians add and remove counterweights from the arbors. Usually located so technicians have access to arbors when battens are at their lowest position.
  9. 15. Gallery – A gallery or catwalk above the stage floor from which counterweight and hemp (rope) rigging is operated.
  10. 17. Plates – Thin plates located on counterweight arbor rods, placed at 2’ intervals between the counterweights, to prevent the rods from spreading apart under a sudden impact load and releasing the counterweights.
  11. 18. – (n) Weights, usually flame cut steel or cast iron, that are placed in counterweight arbors to balance the weight of loads hung on battens. (v) The act of adding of removing weight from a set in order to achieve a balanced system.
  12. 22. Set – A system consisting of one or more lift lines and related components operating together to lift, lower, or suspend or a load.
  13. 24. – The portion of stage that extends beyond the proscenium opening.