Theatre Prop Making
Making props for a theatrical production involves a lot more than stocking a stage with furniture and household items. The props that are needed may be major set props or simple set dressing. Hand props that are referred to the script require special attention. Often the items needed for a particular play are not readily available or must fulfill a specific purpose relating to the plot. Making effective theater props can involve mastering a multitude of creative skills.
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Planning
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Obviously, each theatrical production will be different. Taking the time to go through the script and identify which prop pieces can be acquired and which will need to be manufactured is important. After coming up with a comprehensive list of props, it's important to draft a plan of action and a schedule for completion. Some of the skills that may be required are woodworking, upholstery, paper mache work, resin casting or working with metal. Which work can be accomplished by the prop maker and staff and which will need to be hired out? Is it more economical to make the prop or attempt to find a ready-made version? All of these questions are integral parts of the planning stage.
Upholstery
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Upholstering a piece of furniture for the home involves creating a piece that is both attractive and comfortable. Comfort is not an important priority for stage furniture, but appearance is. What looks like a comfortably cushioned arm chair may in fact be nothing more than fabric covered plywood. You would never select the cheapest, roughest fabric to cover your couch at home, but on the stage, if the fabric looks good to the audience, how it feels to the touch is irrelevant.
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Carpentry
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A prop maker will often need to have advanced carpentry skills. Most productions require that at least a few items be built from scratch out of wood. Skill with tools such as a table saw, lathe, drill press, miter saw and radial arm saw will come in handy. While secondhand furniture can often eliminate the need to create original pieces, period furnishings may only be obtained through skilled carpentry work.
Adaptations
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A production may call for a prop that must withstand a lot of abuse. When this is the case, it may be necessary to add reinforcement that cannot be observed by the audience. For example, if a piece of furniture is going to get thrown across the stage every night, it can't be a delicate prop or it will continually need to be repaired before the next performance. On the other hand, the script may call for a particular item that must get broken with each performance. Multiple examples of this piece will be needed. A prop maker will need to come up with a fast and efficient way to replicate the item. Solving problems like these is part of the prop maker's job.
Shortcuts
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Keep in mind that the audience is not going to get a close-up view of most prop pieces. The stage prop that looks like a pale imitation of the original up close will look surprisingly realistic from a distance. Styrofoam is a very versatile material when it comes to replicating hard-to-find items. Just carve the foam into the desired shape and apply a gesso coating. The gesso will give the Styrofoam a paintable surface. After painting the item, a relativity realistic looking prop that is lightweight and easily moved will result.
Other Uses
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A good stage prop does not need to be thrown away once the run of the play has ended. If storage space is available, props can often be reused in future productions. Another good use for prop pieces is in an improv box. Assemble a box or suitcase containing a variety of props that can be used in improvisation exercises. Small props such as a box of jewelry, a book, a flashlight or other handheld items can trigger interesting improvisational scenes.
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