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April 17th, 2011
Putting on a community play can be a fun way to make friends, and a great way to get involved in theatre and gain some acting experience. Here are some tips to help you put on a successful play.
First, choose a script. You can write your own if you want, get a play book from the library, or buy a script online.
Now you need to start holding auditions. Try to get a lot of people involved from different areas of the community—don’t just target one group. Ask if you can put information about the auditions up on bulletin boards, in shop windows, and in your local newspaper.
Try to have a few extra actors on hand to replace people if they can’t make it to one performance, or if they suddenly get sick. Once you have your cast you can start building your theatre sets and gathering your stage props.
If you want, get your whole cast involved in building the theatre sets. Make, buy, or hire your stage props, and get some costumes together.
Now you can start holding rehearsals. Make sure that everyone knows where to be and when. You should try to have multiple rehearsals a week to encourage your actors to memorize their lines, and really throw themselves into their parts.
Rehearse until you feel everyone is ready. If you planned to be done but someone’s not ready, throw in another rehearsal. It’s always better to be prepared. Enjoy the experience, and do your best, and youll probably want to do another play!
Tags: Prop Hire, Props, Theatre Sets, Theatrical Props
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January 23rd, 2011
It’s not just movie props and theatre sets we can sort out. Some of our clients are in the business of drama education. Of course, every performing company is different, but here’s a little information we’ve garnered over the years based around the fabulous services and benefits of educational theatre.
Theatre education generally takes the form of performance troupes visiting schools and community facilities with the aim of imaginatively informing and nurturing students through performance and interactive plays.
Delivering a Message
In general, education tends to end up being a lot of time spent sat at a desk wishing you were ANYWHERE else in the world. The idea of drama education is to inventively convey messages that perhaps sound trite or ineffective when delivered in a regular teaching fashion.
Chatting with our clients, it seems that theatrical education is largely about creating empathy, promoting tolerance and compassion. Props can play a pivotal role, adding an invaluable element of realism.
Developing Creativity
Imagination is a precious thing. Learning to make creative choices, develop new ideas and interpret concepts resourcefully could lead to a career that sees those same kids hiring our props and theatre sets for their own productions one day.
Opening a Door
Drama education is generally noted for developing empathy, creativity, confidence, communication skills, social awareness and a whole lovely bunch of worthwhile qualities in our kids. Opening the door to a wonderful world of boundless creation, immeasurable enjoyment and lifetime passion.
Tags: importance of props, prop suppliers, theatre, Theatrical Props
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November 17th, 2010
It may surprise you to know that the number of people in Britain who are involved with amateur dramatic societies is greater than the number who watch football, which underlines just how popular amateur theatre is. The size and style of drama society varies greatly and can be anything from half a dozen people staging a play for one night only, to bigger semi professional companies which tour the UK with their productions and compete in drama festivals.
Some people who are not involved with the theatre make the mistake of thinking that because a drama society is amateur, this means that their productions are amateurish. Of course, there will be some out there who are a little less than professional when their play hits the stage. This means that the show will be flawed, but the majority of those who belong to companies take a great pride in their roles, whether they are actors or the people behind the scenes who look after important aspects, such as sound, lighting and stage props.
The people who look after theatre sets are just as important as the actors because without them, there simply would not be a production. These people are the ones who are responsible for the stage props which are used to enhance different aspects of the play. Although you don’t see them, spare a thought for these unsung heroes the next time you watch a play, whether it is in the West End or at your local village hall.
Tags: organising props, Prop Hire, Props, Stage Props
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September 30th, 2010
While they may have got more elaborate and technologically advanced, theatrical props are by no means a modern phenomenon. Creative individuals throughout the ages have utilised such pieces of equipment in order to bring more reality to the worlds they are creating.
So if you are trying to source the right items for theatre sets or a film you are making, you are in involved in a process that has tested men and women over the centuries. The name props is shortened from theatrical or company property, and was originally used to refer to an object held or used on stage by an actor. These days, however, their use is much broader and applies to movies, radio sets and many other disciplines.
Examples of popular items used by performers over the years, and which fall into this category, are many and varied. These include weapons, tools, masks and everyday objects like newspapers. Those working in theatre in Ancient Greece may have been among the first to use theatre sets that incorporated props to be wielded by people on stage.
Although the nature of such items may have changed over time, the way in which they enhance audience enjoyment and understanding has remained the same. Indeed, it is hard to imagine productions being staged without them. Professionals involved in the making of films and other performance art forms often have very large budgets dedicated to making the most of the objects available to them.
Tags: Prop Hire, Props, Stage Props, Theatre Sets, Theatrical Props
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August 30th, 2010
Putting on a show is not an easy task. In order to succeed you will need to be patient, methodical, and organised. You will need to expect the unexpected and be able to think on your feet. No matter how many times you stage a dress rehearsal, or how many props you source, something will always go wrong. However, if you are up to the challenge, putting on a show can be very rewarding indeed.
Props are used in most stage plays, and are very important in most shows. They can be simple objects such as a basket or a book, or they can be more elaborate items, like a katana sword or a machine gun. As a props person, it will be your job to source all the props needed for the show. Most props people tend to make their own props, or hire them from a company like ours, Keeley Hire, because it is much cheaper than buying everything you will need. Many items can also be difficult to track down.
Sourcing props can sometimes be difficult because, you will need to ensure that they are exactly right for the show. If the show is set in, for example, the 17th century, you will need to find appropriate props which are either from that time period or replicate pieces from that period. If you do not get the right props, your show will be less believable, and much less enjoyable for the audience. Fictional worlds should allow the viewer to become immersed in them, and so the stage must be set properly if the illusion is to be maintained.
Tags: prop scenery, Props, props supplier, set design
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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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