Stagecraft

Stagecraft is a technical part of making plays, movies, and videos. It includes building and setting up scenery, arranging lights, making costumes, applying makeup, managing the stage, handling audio, and getting props. This work helps turn a designer's ideas into something real that people can see and enjoy.

In small shows, one person might handle everything. But bigger shows, like those in regional theaters or on Broadway, need many people with special skills. These include carpenters, painters, electricians, stagehands, and others who work together to make each show happen. Modern stagecraft is very detailed and has many different areas of expertise.

History

Ancient Greece

Greek theatre used many clever tricks to tell stories. They had a special building called the skene at the back of the stage, which often had three doors and looked like a palace. Artists could hang painted backdrops called flats that could be turned around to change the scene. They also used a machine called the mechane, a kind of crane, to lift actors above the stage for special effects. Sometimes, they would roll out a character’s dead body on a platform called an ekkyklema instead of showing the death directly. All of these performances happened in bright sunlight.

Europe

During Medieval times, plays were performed in many places like town streets and monasteries. These shows often told religious stories and used songs and special effects to make them more exciting. Later, in England between 1576 and 1642, theaters like the Globe Theatre were built. They used special ropes and traps to move scenery and actors. Lighting was originally just candles, but later, gas lighting was used, which could be dimmed during shows. Eventually, electric lights were introduced, making stage lighting brighter and more controllable. Today, theatrical lighting uses many advanced tools and technologies.

Sub-disciplines

For a topical guide, see Outline of stagecraft.

Stagecraft has many parts that work together to create performances. Some of the main parts include:

• Lighting: This involves planning how to use light for scenes, including choosing the angle, size, brightness, shape, and color. It also includes setting up lights and special effects equipment.
• Make-up/Wigs: Actors use makeup and wigs to look like different characters.
• Mechanics: This is about designing and operating moving parts of sets or special effects.
• Production: This includes organizing the show, managing the stage, and handling other production tasks.
• Scenery: This covers designing and building sets, painting them, and adding special effects.
• Sound design: This includes adding music, voices, and sound effects to enhance the performance.
• Theatrical property, or props: These are items used in the show that aren’t part of the set, lights, or costumes. They can be small items actors hold or larger pieces of furniture.
• Wardrobe: This includes designing, making, and caring for costumes.
• Video (or Projection): This newer part of stagecraft uses video to add images to the performance.
• Stage automation: This uses electronic systems to move set pieces and other elements during a show.