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June 20th, 2010
A scenic designer can sometimes also be known as a set designer or stage designer. Their job is to design theatre sets in an interesting way. Their main aim is to create realistic and atmospheric theatre sets, which enhance a production and allow the actors to perform in a much more convincing manor. The design of the set can be a very important factor in any production. After all, theatre is a very visual medium, and the stage is the first thing to be seen by the audience, setting their expectations for the rest of the show.
Scenic designers have to have a good artistic vision in order to do their jobs well. They initially work in conjunction with the director, in order to establish the tone and atmosphere which they wish to create. The set designer will then come up with a series of sketches from which to work on. Once they have a design in mind, they will set upon building and hiring props and set pieces to be used during the production. Often, set designers will need to do a great deal of research in order to get their designs just right. This is particularly true if the production is an historical piece, because the set designer will need to ensure that every item on the stage fits into the right time period. Using prop hire specialists, like Keeley Hire, is a great way for set designers to find realistic period pieces for their design, without spending too much cash.
Tags: Prop Hire, prop suppliers, Theatrical Props, traditional theatre sets
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June 5th, 2010
If you have written a stage play and would like to turn it into a production, there are many things to consider. Staging a play can be difficult, costly and time consuming. However, it can also be fun and exciting, allowing you to showcase your talents. Below is a list of steps to help you put on the perfect play.
1. Work out your budget and stick to it. At the very least, you will need to buy stage props and costumes. There are ways to minimize your costs. At Keeley Hire, we have a huge range of props for hire at reasonable prices, and you could lower costs further by making costumes yourself. There are always ways to save money, and it is important you find out what they are.
2. Make use of friends and family. If you have friends and family members who have special talents – whether it be acting, sewing or painting – get them involved.
3. Book a venue. Finding a venue to stage your play is one of the biggest obstacles you will encounter. Booking venues can be expensive, and you will never know beforehand if you will manage to sell enough tickets to cover the price. Try to be creative. Find interesting places to hold your play, which are less costly.
4. Casting. Finding the perfect cast, who will not only perform well but also look convinving alongside your props, is very important. Put up advertisements in your local community. You can hold auditions in a local church hall or community club at little cost.
Tags: hiring props, importance of props, Prop Hire, Props, theatre props
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April 27th, 2010
There is much more to staging a play than finding actors and producing a good script. You must have great stage props, an excellent backstage crew and even sound design too. Without these things your production is unlikely to be successful or entertaining for the audience. Stage props, however small or seemingly unimportant, play a vital role in shaping any production. There are many different types of props which can be used to enrich your production and ground it in reality. Props have never been more accessible than they are now, with companies such as ours at Keeley Hire offering a huge range for hire. Some examples of popular props used on stage and screen can be found below.
Signs
Signs are often used in theatre and film productions. They can tell the audience something about the location of the actors on stage or provide a vital clue about the plot. They could be a pub sign, an advertising sign, a newspaper display board or even a road sign.
Food
There are many plays that include a scene in a restaurant or around a family table. To make these types of scenes seem realistic, food props must be used.
Furniture
Every good production set needs some sort of furniture. Whether your play takes place in a bar, a library, train or cafe, you will need to supply relevant pieces of furniture which will let the audience know just where the characters are appearing.
Tags: dining props, furniture props, Prop Hire, prop signs, Stage Props, Theatre Sets
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April 15th, 2010
The theatre is a very visual experience. Audiences take a trip to the theatre to be challenged both mentally and physically, and – of course – to have a good time. Often when staging a play, people tend to focus on the actors and the scripts without taking enough time out to consider the look of the production. Badly designed theatre sets can be extremely detrimental to a stage show and can end up letting the whole production down, whereas a well designed set can vastly improve upon the audience’s experiences and perceptions of the show.
Theatre sets are an integral part of the story you are trying to tell. Think about all the things your actors do during the course of a show. Perhaps they read a newspaper or sit down at the table to have dinner with their family. These scenes would not be possible without well thought-out props and an excellent set design. Theatre sets help to move the story along or illustrate a point the actor is trying to make.
Theatre sets and props become particularly important when a production is set in a specific era or in a very specific location as they can transport both the actors and the audience into a different place and time, thus enabling them to invest more in the story which is being played out in front of them.
When hiring props, you should always use a reputable company such as ours at Keeley Hire, as we are able to source and supply some of the best movie props available in the UK.
Tags: Prop Hire, Props, set design, theatre props, Theatre Sets
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February 25th, 2010
It is a commonplace that fashions come and go. This is the case even where the most traditional theatre is concerned. Shakespeare’s plays are still performed today, and it has to be said, are as relevant as they ever were. However, the fashions in how to speak Shakespearean language, how to stage the Bard’s plays and what sets and props to use have altered over time.
For many years, everybody wore ruffs around their neck and got clad in doublet and hose. Nowadays, anything goes as far as costumes are concerned. It might be that everybody is in a black shirt and trousers. They might just wear modern dress or the play may be set in a particular time and place.
Theatre sets are usually avoided with productions of Shakespeare. This is because the settings for scenes fly around the world. Unlike modern plays which often seem to happen inside a single bedsit, Shakespeare’s plays often present wider spaces.
In the 1960s the Royal Shakespeare Company famously reinvigorated Shakespeare’s history plays. They did this with no permanent set, although they did use banners to show, for example, the opposing sides in The War of the Roses. Props became even more important than usual. In particular, weapons had to be both historical and practical.
Many of Shakespeare’s plays suit a medieval setting and we at Keeley Hire have lots of fantastic props and settings to help establish that atmosphere. In fact, however you want to stage your Shakespeare, take a look at the over half a million props we have.
Tags: Prop Hire, Props, props suppliers, settings, Theatre Sets, Theatrical Props
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September 28th, 2009
School theatre involves a lot of planning from inception to production. The first step is to cast the characters and once this is done it is time to start working on the stage props that will be used in the production.
The most traditional method of creating stage props is to build them. This means working with wood and hiring carpenters to design them, cut them out and assemble them. The cast members and other school pupils traditionally paint and decorate them. Apart from wood a lot of Styrofoam is used as it is lighter and easier to work with, and is less expensive than wood. However not all stage props benefit from this material as it is not as strong as wood. Yet these materials still cost money.
The creating of stage props takes weeks, if not months to complete. Stage members and cast are often pushed into working long in the night. The end product can at times be a poor reflection of what is envisaged. Anyone in the theatre business can attest to the need for realistic and professional props.
Once the play has closed these props are often torn down or thrown away. With it goes a substantial investment in both time and money. What cannot be torn down needs to be stored and this means finding space to accommodate them.
Many schools are instead opting to hire their props. Prop hire offers time savings and frees up stage hands and cast members allowing them time to focus instead on the play. The costs saved in prop materials can be better put to use, and finding space to store props that may never be used again is no longer a problem.
Tags: Movie Props, Prop Hire, Props, Stage Props, Theatre Sets
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September 14th, 2009
Setting up a theatre production can be very complicated; not to mention expensive. There is the venue to consider firstly, and then the fees for actors and stage hands. After that comes the job of getting the right stage props. Stage props can make or break a production. It is hard to imagine a theatre production without the aid of props to make it realistic and believable.
Building your own theatre sets takes a lot of imagination and knowledge. You need artisans and set builders which will add to your expenses. Another thing to consider is the space that will be needed to store equipment and materials needed to build props. Whether you are performing an amateur production at the local pub or putting on a large professional theatre production, you need props.
The list can be endless, yet making use of exciting items within the places you are performing can be a major challenge, and may result in your production feeling minimalist and unprofessional.
If your production is going to move forward and attract paying audiences; besides good content you need to ensure that the right setting is achieved.
What are your options? Besides buying truckloads of materials and hiring artisans, you need space to work and store your props. If you don’t have either means to do this then you might want to consider prop hire.
Prop hire is a very popular option for theatre productions. The hassle of building and assembling is left to professionals. They deliver your props and once your play has run its course the props are collected and stored by someone else.
Tags: Movie Props, Prop Hire, Props, Stage Props, Theatre Sets
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September 7th, 2009
Theatrical props or property are referred to as any object that is held or used on stage by an actor. Their use is intended to further the storyline of a theatre production or movie. Smaller props are called ‘hand props’.
Larger props encompass a wide variety of things such as chairs or wagons. What differentiates a prop from a set decoration is that props are items that are touched or used. If not they are simply decoration. When an item is used by an actor according to the requirements of a script or director it is a prop.
During the renaissance in Europe small acting troupes travelled extensively. They formed ‘companies’ and functioned as cooperatives. They pooled their resources and in turn divided any income gained from performing.
These performers often needed to provide their own costumes and were considered their own property. Other items such as weapons, furniture or handheld devices were considered the property of the company. Hence the term prop, which is a shortened version of property.
The first known props were used by actors in Greek Theatre. These props were stylised handheld masks called Onkoi. These ‘comedy and tragedy masks’ have today become the iconic symbol we relate specifically to theatre.
Many stage props are nothing more than ordinary items we use in our daily lives. However, a prop must ‘read well’ by theatre or movie audiences. For this reason most props today look more like the real thing than the real item does.
In other circumstances props are designed to behave differently than the real item for the sake of safety to the performers.
Tags: Movie Props, Prop Hire, Props, Stage Props, Theatre Sets
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