The traditional theatre set consists of flats, which are usually constructed into a three walled room with the fourth wall missing and the audience viewing the show through that imaginary barrier. Those walls are then dressed and the appropriate furnishings, and props complete the overall impression that the designer is looking to convey.
However, many theatre spaces, especially on the fringe consist of little more than black boxes and do not have the necessary space to erect huge flats. It therefore becomes all the more important that authentic props are used as these will carry the whole weight of the show’s design.
In fact, many large scale productions in huge theatres also shy away from traditional theatre sets. For example, the Royal Shakespeare Company helped cement its position at the forefront of the British theatre scene with its productions of Shakespeare’s history plays, which did away with sets and instead utilised banners and weaponry.
Shakespeare’s plays are timeless. You might think this means that you can take costumes and props from any period. This was the approach in a recent production of Chekov’s ‘Three Sisters’. The effect was as if the actors had been let loose in a child’s dressing-up box. In fact, to get the timeless quality, there still needs to be consistency – however stripped back it is.
At Keeley Hire, we provide props for films, television and theatre as well as the advertising and event planning industries. We have been in business over forty years and are always happy to deal with your queries however strange you may think them.
