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A SHORT GUIDE TO JARGON AROUND THE STAGE

• PROSS
  • Proscenium Arch
  
  
• FOH
  • Front of House, The House, The Auditorium
  
  
• FOH Staff
  • Anyone who works directly with the audience i.e. box office
  
  
• FLOATS
  • Area across the front of stage or lanterns used there, often floods
  
  
• GRID
  • The area above the stage on which equipment is hung
  
  
• TO FLY
  • To suspend in the air, ( usually from the grid)
  
  
• 'IN'
  • In view, Movement = downwards, To fly in = To lower
  
  
• 'OUT'
  • Out of view, Movement = upwards, To fly out = To raise
  
  
• UP STAGE
  • Area = Rear third of stage, Move = Towards the back of stage
  
  
• CENTRE STAGE
  • Area = Centre third of stage, Move = towards stage centre
  
  
• DOWN STAGE
  • Area = front third of stage, Move = Towards the front of stage
  
  
• ON STAGE
  • Movement = Towards the centre of the stage but crosswise
  
  
• OFF STAGE
  • Movement = Away from the centre of the stage but crosswise
  
  
• STAGE LEFT
  • Left to the actor when facing the audience
  
  
• STAGE RIGHT
  • Right to the actor when facing the audience
  
  
• CALLS
  • Messages from the stage manager,
    mainly reminders of time to curtain up,
    calling staff to stage during a show,
  
  
• CALLS (Curtain)
  • Bows at end of show
  
  
• PROPS
  • Properties, items to dress the set
    also those required by cast but not costume
  
  
• THE HALF
  • 30 Minutes before curtain up.
    All cast and crew should be in the theatre by this time!
  
  
• COMMS
  • Communication, headset system used to link the technical crew
  
  
• TO MASK
  • To hide from the view of the audience
  
  
• BORDER
  • A short single panel of material, full stage width flown from a barrel
    but dropped in to mask the (plumbing) equipment in the grid
  
  
• CLOTH (BACKCLOTH)
  • Single panel of material full stage width may be painted
  
  
• CUT CLOTH
  • As above but with centre cut out to form an arch,
    Makes a decorative surround for the stage set several may be used together
  
  
• CYC (Cyclorama)
  • The cloth furthest upstage that is used often used for sky and known as the sky cloth
  
  
• TABS
  • A pair of curtains flown from a track may be painted or plain
  
  
• TAB TRACK
  • Two tracks used to suspend the tabs,
    Rigged so that both curtains move on or off together
  
  
• LEGS
  • Single material panel full height narrow used for masking
  
  
• FLATS
  • Rigid panel used to form set
  
  
• WING FLAT
  • Flat used to mask wing space
  
  
• GROUND ROW
  • LX (Electrician): run of floodlights on stage floor
  • SM (Stage manager): low flat often in book form profiled edge
  
  
• BOOK FLAT
  • Two flats hinged together so they may be opened
    to show their inside faces and be free standing.
    very often used as wing flats
  
  
• BACKING
  • Flats often in book form used to mask windows,
    entrances etc. offstage of set.
    Usually painted to represent view from window. hallway etc., as required
  
  
• BRACES
  • Supports usually adjustable that are fixed to flats.
    May be screwed to floor but mostly just weighted
  
  
• FRENCH BRACE
  • Triangular framework hinged to flat that may be opened out and weighted to give support
  
  
• WEIGHTS
  • Weights to secure braces. Shaped to fit toe of brace often two are used on one brace to give extra support near practical doors
  
  
• TRUCK
  • Wheeled platform with set fixed to it
  
  
• LINES
  • Rope and pulley arrangement to fly scenery or lighting.
    May have a barrel fixed to it, can be counterweighted
  
  
• CLEAT
  • Fixed to wall so that lines may be 'tied off 'on them
  
  
• BARREL
  • 48MM Tubing also known as scaff or bar when flown
  
  
• BRIDLE CHAINS
  • Heavy chain with snap hooks to suspend barrel
  
  
• A DEAD
  • Predetermined position for any flown items