terminology Flashcards
abstract
A scenic or other design which is nonrepresentational and suggests the situation rather than simulating it
ambient noise
The sound heard in a given room with no sound sources. Each space has a particular sound which aids our identification of the kind of space we’re in.
anachronism
A scenic item, prop or costume which is from a different time period than that being portrayed on stage. Usually, it’s a modern item that shouldn’t be seen in a period piece.
auditorium
The part of the theatre accommodating the audience during the performance. Sometimes known as the “house
BACKLIGHT
Light coming from upstage, behind scenery or actors, to sculpt and separate them from the background
fresnel
A type of lantern which produces an even, soft-edged beam of light through a Fresnel lens
light curtain
A lighting effect which, when an area is diffused with smoke, produces a wall of light.
uplight
Light from below the actors - from a light source on the stage floor.
acoustics
The quality of sound in a given space, measured and analyzed by its clarity, loudness, liveliness, reverberance, echoes, dynamic range, envelopment, spaciousness, warmth and silence or noise control rating.
chorus
In Greek theatre, a character (or group) representing an element in the drama which comments on the action, and advances the plot.
DEAD ROOM
A room with very thick sound absorbers, causing a very dull sound with no reverberation.
environmental sound
A sound that is not specifically mentioned in the text of the play, but helps to create a feeling of reality / appearance of truth. Examples include dripping water in a cave, distant organ music heard in a church graveyard, traffic heard passing outside an office
motivated sound
A sound effect that is called for in the script of the play, or is motivated by the actions of a character. Examples include an actor switching on a radio to hear an announcement, an actor running a bath offstage, or a car pulling up outside the house.
reverb
Effect which may be added to sound effects during recording or to a voice during performance. Sustains the sound longer than normal, as if the sound was reverberating around a large building
thunder sheet
Large suspended steel sheet with handles which produces a thunder-like rumble when shaken or beaten.
timbre
A musical instrument (or voice) has a quality of character that separates the sound of different instruments from each other.
voice over
Refers to a technique for recording an actor’s voice and replaying it during the performance to indicate a thought process, or for more practical uses such as covering a scene change or costume change
coloured smoke
Pyrotechnic device, produced by Le Maitre, which is available as a cartridge which plugs into a flash pot, and when detonated, produces an intense cloud of coloured smoke
gauze
Cloth with a relatively coarse weave. Used unpainted to diffuse a scene played behind it. When painted, a gauze is opaque when lit obliquely from the front and becomes transparent when the scene behind it is lit
apron
the section of the stage that [projects in front of the curtain
black box
a stage type that has no specific areas for audience or performers, extremely flexible
box set
a set that is proscenium arch with 3 walls around and an open 4th wall, so the action is enclosed
episodic
a play written in short scenes that makes it seem cinematic
flat
oblong timber frame, covered with canvas or cardboard to help present a location depending on the design painting.
follow spot
a beam of light that tracks the actor, isolating the attention on them
pre-set
what the audience sees before the performance starts
