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December 19th, 2011
Staging a theatre production can often be a very delicate process as it frequently involves you having to balance artistic integrity with financial practicalities. Sadly, this often means that certain things need to be sacrificed in order for other features to be saved.
However, there are certain aspects of theatre which simply cannot be compromised on and somewhere close to the top of this list are props. Prop pieces really are absolutely vital to any theatre production as they are instrumental in drawing the audience into the fictional world that your actors are trying so hard to create.
When it comes to theatre props, it really is essential that you source items that are of a sufficient high-quality. Thankfully, we at Keeley Hire have a vast array of prop pieces that are of the very highest standards. Indeed, our extensive collection includes everything from crown jewels to futuristic weapons, so you are sure to find the perfect items you need, regardless of the type of production you’re staging. However, our prices are incredibly competitive, so you can rest assured that you are also getting great value for money, too.
So, if compromises do have to be made, consider other areas of your production before making any limitations on your prop store. Otherwise, you may end up letting your production down, and that would be a great shame.
Explore our pages further to find out more about our great range of high quality prop items.
Tags: authentic props, Prop Hire, Props, theatre props
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December 9th, 2011
Staging a play is no mean feat. Indeed, a great deal of work is needed to organise and stage a theatre production, and it is advisable to carefully consider the main aspects before deciding to go ahead and make the magic happen.
Script
The first thing to consider with any stage production is the script. This can either be an existing script or an original work that has been written specifically for the occasion. Although going for an existing script means having to obtain performance rights, the extra effort is normally worth it as popular scripts generally attract larger audiences.
Cast
Once you have settled on a script you will need to find actors and actresses who are able to make the dialogue come alive. Naturally, you should always try and get the best actors that your budget allows.
Props
Once the script and cast are established, you will need to turn your attention to your theatre sets and prop items. Theatre props play a vital role in any play so it is important that any items sourced are of a quality that will ensure the actors and audience are suitably engaged. Again, you should always go for the best prop pieces that your budget can afford.
Here at Keeley Hire, we have a wide range of affordable prop items to suit all types of theatre productions. So, regardless of whether you need contemporary, sci-fi or medieval props, make us your first port of call.
Tags: Props, Stage Props, theatre props, Theatre Sets
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July 22nd, 2011
In the renaissance era, theatrical troupes travelled Europe, working as co-operatives, pooling resources and sharing earnings. While many actors made their costumes, special items, such as weapons, furniture and hand-held objects, were described as company property, and this term became shortened.
The earliest stage props were stylised hand-held masks, or Onkoi, used in Greek theatre. Today, they symbolise the theatre–the ‘comedy and tragedy masks’.
Many stage props are everyday items. But a prop must “read well”, meaning it must look real to the audience. Many real objects are not well adapted to the job of looking like themselves to an audience, due to their shape, durability, or colour under lights, so some props are designed to look more like themselves than even the real thing does.
And in some cases, a prop is designed to behave differently than the regular version, often for safety reasons. Examples include balsa wood furniture or sugar glass, for realistic breakage without causing harm.
Keeley Hire has specialised in prop hire since the 1830s, and supplies the TV, theatre, movie and themed event industries worldwide. We have 500, 000 items in stock – and can make to order anything we don’t currently supply.
Our database search facility makes it easy to search for whatever your event or production needs – from an umbrella to a plant pot. Build a prop hire enquiry list online, and we’ll confirm availability. We don’t deliver, but recommend experienced hauliers. Visit our showrooms or arrange your own collection, by prior appointment.
Tags: Prop Hire, Stage Props, theatre props
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July 18th, 2011
Whether you’re an amateur drama company or a frazzled teacher charged with producing the school play, the right stage props are crucial. As well as completing the look of a show, these vital components of theatre sets help actors get into character with confidence.
While it can be tempting to ask around for props, this may not produce the range and quality of stage props for your theatre sets you need in time.
Hiring the items your production has to have saves money compared to buying, and you won’t be left wondering what to do with everything you’ve bought at the end of your show’s run.
If you deal with an Internet hire company, you can source all your properties online easily and quickly, and cost-effectively. You’ll be able to find absolutely everything for your show under a single virtual roof, with just a few clicks of your mouse. When time and money are tight, and everyone involved in a production is a volunteer, that can be invaluable.
At Keely Hire, we’ve been supplying movie, TV and theatre sets for generations, and we were originally founded in the nineteenth century. We can supply you with everything mentioned in your play’s script – from a rickshaw to military regalia. Search our easy to use database and email or phone to check availability. Unable to collect and return your stage props? We’ll gladly quote for transport using the transport and courier companies we know and trust.
Tags: Props, Stage Props, theatre props
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June 17th, 2011
Stage productions have long been popular with audiences in many countries around the world. People often love nothing more than watching talented actors, singers or dancers, or all three in the case of a musical, showing off their skills in engaging and entertaining shows.
In order for such events to be a success, it helps if the audiences are drawn into the imaginary world inhabited by the cast for the length of the production. This enables viewers to truly get into the spirit of the performance and to follow the story with greater interest.
One of the crucial things when it comes to making this goal a reality is the stage props used on theatre sets. These days there are many such items to choose from, from exceptionally realistic to over-the-top and comical.
For example, here at Keeley Hire we specialise in the provision of objects like this and so can help you achieve the effects you are after. Indeed, our large warehouse allows us to stock a plethora of provisions, meaning you should not struggle to find exactly what you are seeking.
Putting considerable effort into the stage props used on your theatre sets can really pay off and add a whole new dimension to your production. Indeed, details like this can help make or break your creation, so they should never be underestimated or seen merely as an afterthought.
To find out more about the fantastic array of objects we have, simply take a look around our website or get in touch.
Tags: Props, Stage Props, theatre props, Theatre Sets
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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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November 5th, 2010
Theatre sets come in all shapes and sizes, and their cost is also right across the range. From the garishly painted backgrounds used in school productions which cost very little to produce, to the car in the stage production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, which is believed to have cost more than £1 million, stage props are important to telling the story.
Whether you are putting on a West End show or a school nativity play, props are an integral part of the production. Without them, the actors would struggle to carry out their role. Having said that, there are some stage productions which do not use props, preferring instead to go for a minimalist look.
But the majority of productions use props to enhance storytelling, which of course, is the most important aspect. For instance, fairy tales like Hansel and Gretel make good use of stage enhancements. A spooky scene from the play feels even more realistic with a scene in a dark forest hanging in the background. Some actors might also feel more comfortable with inanimate objects with which to interact. If you are in charge of a stage play, think carefully about what you need. Do you think stage props will enhance the production? If so, choose carefully. Whatever you choose, make sure it benefits the show and serves a purpose. And remember, it doesn’t matter if the show is in the West End or at the local community centre – just make the best of what your budget will allow.
Tags: hiring props, theatre, theatre props, Theatre Sets
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September 14th, 2010
When staging any production for film, TV or theatre, it is essential to avoid anachronisms, unless they are an intentional part of the plot or story. For example, if you were filming a Victorian period drama and a character walked past a post box from the 1950s, this anachronism would make the audience question the authenticity of the piece, the whole concept of suspension of disbelief would be shattered, the entire dramatic contract between author, actor and audience would be broken and the tone of the piece immediately becomes comical or farcical.
By choosing Keeley Hire for all of your movie props and theatre sets, embarrassing scenarios such as this can easily be avoided. We can advise you of the most authentic props which are contemporary to the setting of your production and our expertise enables us to perfect your production down to the last minute detail. The next time that you notice a Ferrari whooshing past a horse and cart during a medieval drama, or a World War Two era tank trundling into action over the battlegrounds of World War One, you can rest assured that the production companies were not wise enough to seek advice from Keeley Hire.
Subtle details often set the best theatre sets apart from poorly planned productions and at Keeley Hire, we take pride in ensuring that all of your theatre props and movie props are authentic and original. We want to you to rest assured that the audience is only bamboozled, surprised and confused at the appropriate moments, not throughout the entire production. We do not want your serious thriller to become slapstick, surrealist comedy because of a lack of foresight, so please ensure that you always put your trust in our prop specialists.
Tags: authentic props, Movie Props, theatre props, Theatre Sets, TV props
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August 11th, 2010
Theatre sets are a crucial part of most stage productions, but they often need to be changed in a hurry. For this reason, many stage dressers like to use props which are lightweight and easy to move around, so foam props are often used in the theatre, rather than heavier, bulkier versions of the same object. Props can easily be made from foam and rubber, which are very light but still sturdy enough to look realistic on stage.
If you would like to use foam props in your stage production, you will need to decide whether to buy, make or hire the props. If you are a skilled designer, you could probably make your own props with ease, but, if you are not particularly talented in that area, buying or hiring your props would be a better solution. At Keeley Hire, we have some great foam props at low prices, which may be suitable for your show.
Types of foam
Foam versions of heavy objects should be made with Styrofoam; which is much more ‘solid’ and will give you the desired effect. Styrofoam is particularly good for making prop cars and statues.
Foam rubber is, often, also used to create weapon props, due to its soft but sturdy nature.
When it comes to creating scenery on your theatre set, use flat foam rubber. It can easily be painted to achieve your desired colour and is very flexible. When it is mounted on wood, it becomes much more flexible and can be moved around the stage with ease.
Tags: Movie Props, Prop Hire, Stage Props, theatre props, 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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