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May 23rd, 2011
Rather than puff this blog entry up with advice about working with children and animals, we’ve decided to make today’s props blog all about…. taxidermy.
We currently carry a rather diverse stock of taxidermy animals, but it’s come to our attention that lots of people are a little uneasy/confused concerning the law of the land and using taxidermy stage props. Here’s a little advice and legal clarification to help you get to know your inanimate furry friends.
The Guild of Taxidermists is an organisation whose members we tend to favour when on the hunt for ethical, brilliantly crafted stage props. The Guild provides comprehensive legal advice to members, meaning we know everything we buy has come from a 100% legally sound background and been created using 100% legally recognised processes.
Of course, there are some things most folks know from the word go e.g. the sale of rhino horn is illegal, so if anyone turns up offering to sell you one, head for the police station! But knowing the right questions to ask and the right documents to see as proof is something we know well.
For example, UK taxidermy law lists numerous animals such as the Big Cats, Elephants, Pandas etc as being on banned lists for contemporary taxidermy (if you want proof, take a look at the taxidermy panda in the London Natural History Museum; it’s bio informs the viewer that the panda’s coat has faded and will not be replaced by a newer version due to the unethical practice of replacement) so we always ask for proof of origin when buying new specimens.
Tags: Prop Hire, prop hire company, Props, Stage Props
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April 11th, 2011
If your prop room is a disorganized frenzy, you’ll never be able to find the stage props you need when you need them. And if you own some props and have hired out others, you may find it hard to remember which props belong to you and which props need to be returned. Here are some tips to help you organise your stage props.
1. First, empty the room entirely. Once you have a clear, open space, you can put in some shelving or some plastic tubs that you can use to store various items in.
2. Label different areas. Make separate sections for props you own and ones you’ve hired—such as on different walls. Label individual shelves and plastic tubs with categories so that each type of prop will be easier to find.
3. Instruct everyone to put things in the right place. One of the main reasons a prop room gets disorganized is because actors tend to just drop things or stuff them in the easiest place instead of taking the time to put them in any sort of order.
4. Make sure that actors know which props belong to you and which ones are hired. This way everyone will know and nothing will be lost. If necessary, mark the ones you own somehow to distinguish them.
Once your prop room is organized, you will find it much easier to find things when you need them, and both rehearsals and performances should run more smoothly.
Tags: hiring props, organising props, Props, smaller props
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April 8th, 2011
Choosing the right stage props for your performance depends on a lot of different factors. What time period is the play set in? Are you working with detailed or minimalistic theatre sets? How much money do you have to spend? Here are some thoughts to help you choose the right stage props.
First, read the script thoroughly. This way you will know if the play itself calls for any specific props. Often certain characters need particular articles of clothing, things they keep in their pockets, or things that they will use in various scenes.
Once you know what you absolutely have to have to make the play work, start looking for these props. You can sometimes buy things from charity shops or department stores, but you could also hire some props from a company like Keeley Hire. They offer some amazingly detailed and well made props and theatre sets.
Think about the time period your play is set in as well. For instance, if your play is set in the 1930’s, you don’t want a really modern telephone as a prop. Or, if your play is modern, you probably don’t want to use an antique tea set—unless that is important to the story, or adds something important to the scene.
Try to choose basic background pieces and furniture based on what the characters would like, or what they would be able to afford.
Now that you know what you need and where to get it, you can get started setting up your scenes and rehearsing your play.
Tags: hiring props, Props, Stage Props, Theatre Sets
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April 2nd, 2011
As well as hiring props, making your own stage props is a great way to save some money on any production you plan to do. But if you’ve never made any before, you may not know where to start, or how to find the materials you will need. Here are some tips to help you get started making your own props.
First, make a list of all the props that you will need. Sometimes you will be able to find a few useful items around your home, or borrow some from a friend. Find anything you can before you start making things.
Now figure out what kind of materials you need. For instance, do you expect to build furniture? You will need some wood that’s easy to work with. Try scrap yards, or ask friends with barns or sheds if they have any old scrap wood they aren’t using. Alternatively, but cheap plywood from a DIY shop. Figure out what else you need—ie paint, glue, paper mache, cardboard, fabric, etc.
Now you can start to build and create. If you’re doing a period piece, look at photos online or in magazines to find out what the item would have looked like. Try to replicate it. If you’re doing a modern play, try to make items look like things in your own home, or the home of someone you know.
If you need help making your stage props, enlist the help of your cast. Most people will be glad to help and to do as much as they can to make your production a success.
Tags: Prop Hire, prop hire company, Props, Stage Props
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March 20th, 2011
Stage props are often used by theatre actors to enhance their performances and add meaning to a scene.
Types
There are four distinct types of props used in the theatre. A ‘hand prop’ is small and so can be held by an actor. A ‘dress prop’ adds to a character’s costume without being worn. A ‘rehearsal prop’ is used in place of any real prop that is so delicate or valuable it can only be used for actual performances. ‘Set properties’ are functional items used by actors on the set, such as tables and chairs.
Role
Stage props can have many functions within a theatre performance. Aside from being obvious visual aids, they can also help to convey a story’s subtext and give the audience deeper perception of a character and their motives. For example, a man whose wife has died may carry a keepsake of hers with him at all times. Even though the audience are not informed of this sad event, the infatuation of the keepsake can allude to his great loss.
Significance
The inclusion of props in a theatre production can be invaluable. Not only can they make an audience believe more in the performance they are watching, they can also be used to help convey meaning. For example, if no props are used for the first hour of a performance and a box then suddenly appears, the audience can safely assume that the box will be significant to the story in some way later on.
Tags: hiring props, importance of props, prop hire company, Stage Props
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February 28th, 2011
There is no reason not to be a perfectionist when it comes to stage props and theatre sets. If you let your guard down over just one or two items there’s bound to be someone in the audience who notices, and once they notice one thing that’s not perfect they’ll notice others. Unfortunately not everyone is content to sit back and watch the magic of the theatre unfold- there are always critics, and critics will be picky.
It is possible to make sure that every one of your stage props is perfect. We keep more than half a million items- almost any item you can think of will be represented in our range somewhere, and usually we’ve got at least two or three different kinds so you can choose the one that suits your play best. You can either browse the most popular items in the range through the web or make an appointment to come into our massive warehouse and pick up everything you need.
In the unlikely event that we haven’t got what you want (and if we haven’t got it, the chance that someone else does is limited), don’t despair. Our specialists can make props for movies and theatre sets to order, so it is possible to get the exact prop for the job. It is, of course, cheaper to hire something we already have but if you are really stuck we’ll do all we can to help, even if that means making custom props just for your play or movie.
Tags: importance of props, prop hire company, Props, Stage Props, Theatre Sets
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February 23rd, 2011
Everyone knows that first impressions do count. That is true at job interviews, true when passing someone in the street, and just as true when it comes to theatre sets. As soon as the curtain goes up it will be obvious whether the viewer can expect a children’s school play, run of the mill amateur dramatics, or something a little more professional.
Costumes, sets, and stage props make a difference, especially in the opening scenes. It doesn’t matter how powerful an actor is. If he or she is dressed in a poorly stitched outfit made by their mum and carrying something that is obviously a children’s toy rather than a serious stage prop the viewer is immediately inclined to be unimpressed. As soon as the audience sees the stage they will begin to expect either a quality performance or a poor showing, and they’ll have made up their minds before the first actor even opens their mouth. Sure, they might be pleasantly or unpleasantly surprised, but there is no doubt that first impressions have an impact.
Theatre sets, costumes and stage props make that first impression so it’s critically important to get them right. Of course, the rest of the production also has to sparkle, but getting the visual details right gives the cast the best possible chance to shine. It helps audiences take the play seriously right from the first moment.
Visual cues also let the audience know what to expect in terms of tone and provide a wealth of information on setting and time period. A picture – or a theatre set – speaks a thousand words before the first line of the play.
Tags: Prop Hire, Props, Stage Props, Theatre Sets
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February 14th, 2011
The works of the great Charles Dickens are frequently adapted for film and television and even more frequently adapted for the stage. The musical based on Oliver Twist is one of the most popular of all time and A Christmas Carol is retold on television at least once every Christmas. Scrooge and Tiny Tim are icons, instantly recognisable even to those who have never read a word of Dickens.
His ability to conjure up images of a particular time and place was coupled with an outstanding talent for creating characters that are at once larger than life and perfectly believable. Once you have seen their play or read their book it is impossible to forget Miss Havisham, Little Nell, or Fagin. His works are inextricably entwined with our ideas about London in the 19th Century and when we think of the customs and manners of this period, it is Dickens who paints the most vivid picture for us.
Recreating Victorian London is simple – because Dickens is so popular we keep a huge range of stage props that are intended just for that purpose. It’s not just about the time period either. Many of Dickens’ stories are set against a backdrop of poverty and deprivation. The props must help build that theme and let the audience know both what time period they are looking at and the social circumstances the characters find themselves in.
If you are staging a Dickens play and need props, you’ve come to the right place. We have the perfect stage props to make any production of Little Dorrit, Oliver, Great Expectations, or A Christmas Carol look perfectly Dickensian.
Tags: importance of props, Prop Hire, Props, Stage Props
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February 8th, 2011
Fire is instantly evocative. Even in modern times when central heating is almost everywhere, there is a kind of romance that can only be conjured up by a roaring wood fire. When it comes to creating an air of mystery, there’s no doubt that candles make better props than battery powered torches ever could.
Using fire with stage props can be very effective. For medieval castle scenes there is nothing quite like a burning brazier or two to set the tone and conjure up exactly the right feel for a dark and gloomy night. They make even a poorly painted backdrop look like ancient stone walls studded with oak and iron.
We have a selection of fiery stage props. There are braziers, candelabra, and both wall-mounted and hand-held flaming torches in the range along with a variety of oil burners and lamps, all of which can be used to lend an authentic feel to medieval and fantasy scenes and add a touch of spectacle to a production. They do particularly well in outdoor performances – A Midsummer Night’s Dream, for example, can be wonderful when staged under the stars.
Fire does always raise safety issues. Plan exactly where the props will be placed and ensure they’ll be easily extinguishable and fully stable at all times. Do consider the regulations before hiring any fire-related props and make sure that all necessary permissions are obtained well in advance. There is nothing worse than having to make fake fire with orange and red tissue paper at the last minute, except perhaps for having the fire alarms go off mid-performance.
Tags: authentic props, Props, Stage Props, Theatrical Props
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February 5th, 2011
As one of the UK’s leading prop hire companies, a big part of our business is matching the right customer with the right prop. Sometimes it’s not easy – we have half a million stage props on offer, kept in a warehouse space that has more than 50000 square feet of storage area when they aren’t in use somewhere around the world. That’s almost two standard football pitches of floor space filled to bursting with stuffed boar’s heads, suits of armour, boats, movable lamp posts, barrels, thrones, coffins, parasols, and the odd fake horse or two.
There are certainly more stage props in our prop hire warehouse than we could ever list online so if you can’t find the right piece of kit, do feel free to ask. We do, however, list several thousand items on this website so the chances are that whatever you need, it’ll be here somewhere.
There are a few different ways to search. First of all, you can try looking for the exact item by entering it into the search box- say ‘snow shoes’ or ‘crown’ for example. We know that you won’t always have an exact list, so it’s also possible to search by theme too. Military, Roman, Medieval, Western, and Pirates are just some of the classifications you can browse on the Props page.
If you’re really having trouble or you need a lot of different stage props, we can make an appointment for you to come and visit the warehouse. There, one of our staff will help you find the right items.
Tags: hiring props, Props, Stage Props, theatre props
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