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.
