Comments on: Technical Theatre Terms

By: jeff waddilove

jeff waddilove — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 10:22:48 +0000

Valence curtain

A valence curtain is a decorative border hung in front of the main house curtain.

Venetian curtain

A Venetian curtain or contour curtain is a house curtain that is raised on a number of individual lift lines that can be adjusted separately to give a sculptured effect to the curtain opening. If it is raised higher in the centre than the sides it can form the shape of an arch. If the centre is lower than the sides it can form a drape like a valence border. Adjusting the lift lines will allow a variety of shapes for the opening.

By: steve k

steve k — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:06:50 +0000

Some theaters have an area stage left and stage right of the apron, where I imagine a Greek chorus would stand.
What would you call this location? Proscenium left and proscenium right?
For multiple scenes to occur simultaneously, at what other parts of a theater can a playwright or director place the actors? I know this would depend on the individual theater design, but I wanted to get an idea of possibilities: orchestra pit, front row orchestra, catwalk, etc. What other creative options exist?
I plan to adapt a screenplay of mine into a stage play, and I want to place characters on various parts of the stage environs.
This would solve Intercutting, where the film switches back and forth between locations.
Thank you.
BTW – In December 1973, I saw the musical play Pippin in London at Her Majesty’s Theatre. In a battle scene, where body parts flew, they cleverly had an actor pop his head through a small trap door, from under the stage. When another actor was cleaning up the body parts, the audience was startled to observe the dismembered head speaking.

By: John

John — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:22:12 +0000

A “Ghost Glide” is an alternative name for a “Corsican Trap” and is one which alows an actor to slowly rise through the stage, while travelling across it. (It’s basically a trap door opening set into a part of the stage that resembles a roll-top desk.) – As far as I am aware, the only working Corsican Trap is to be found in the Gaiety Theater in the Isle of Man. – The stage was refurbished in 1999-2000. – The name comes from the play “The Corsican Brothers” which as far as I know is the only production which calls for it’s use!
I recently came across a description of a Vampire trap some time ago now, on the internet – don’t know where, but as far as I can remember, it is a pair of sprung trap doors in the stage which allow an actor to fall through the stage with the doors closing behind them – try a search for yourself and try the spelling as “Vampyr” I think!
Regards

John

By: Sue Pope

Sue Pope — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 15:27:53 +0000

I am studying Theatre History and have come upon two terms you don’t have listed:

Vampire Trap and Ghost Glide — both used in the early 1900′s

By: Joy Perkins

Joy Perkins — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 02:43:47 +0000

Hi – thanks for this website. I’ve used some of the information for my Year 11 / Stage I Drama Studies class examination. They
will be continuing through to final year High School Drama studies next year and so this has been a great help.
Thankyou.
Joy Perkins
Senior Drama Teacher
Glossop High School
South Australia/Australia