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.
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