Theatre: Art in Action

Chapter 3: Technical Theatre

Overview

Theatre is a collaborative art form. The focus of the audience may be on the actors onstage, but a dramatic production could not work without the tech (or technical) crews—the groups of people responsible for the set, props (or properties), lighting, sound, costumes, and makeup. These crews, which handle the technical areas of theatre, are collectively known as the stage crew.

The set construction crew creates the onstage physical space. The shifting crew changes the set from scene to scene.

The prop crew is in charge of the props—anything the actors handle onstage as well as furniture and other items that enhance the set.

The lighting crew sets up the lights and runs them during the performance according to the plan drawn up by the lighting designer.

The sound designer decides what kind of music and sound effects are needed. The sound crew is responsible for collecting, preparing, and running the sound for a performance.

The costume crew keeps costumes clean and repaired from one performance to the next. This crew may also sew the clothing designed by the costume designer.

Actors usually put on their own makeup; but when the cast is large or the makeup is complicated and specialized, the job may be done by a makeup crew supervised by a makeup designer.