Role and Responsibilities of Theatre Carpenters
– Construct sets and stage elements for theatrical productions
– Hired by production manager, crew chief, or technical director
– Paid by the hour
– Receive technical drawings from the technical director
– Use woodworking and welding techniques
– Build set pieces such as flats, platforms, and columns
– Construct stairs, ramps, and level the stage floor
– Trusted riggers may also be responsible for rigging
– Do not work on anything with an electrical component
– Scenic artists are responsible for painting the set
Organization of Stage Carpentry
– Large productions have a master carpenter or shop foreman
– Multiple subordinate carpenters work under the master carpenter
– Distinctions between carpenters and riggers in union houses and larger theatres
– Smaller theatres may not make this distinction due to staffing limitations
– Professional carpenters do not paint the set
Related Topics
– Stagecraft
– Carpenter (general woodworking)
– Scene Design and Stage Lighting (book reference)
– Wikipedia stub articles on stagecraft and woodworking
– Categories: Stage crew, Theatrical occupations, Woodworking, Carpentry, Stagecraft stubs, Woodworking stubs
References
– Parker, W. Oren (1990). Scene Design and Stage Lighting. Holt, Rinehart and Winston. p.263. ISBN0-03-028777-4.
– Wikipedia article on Carpenter (theatre) stub
– Wikipedia article on joinery, woodworking joints, carpentry, or woodworking stubs
– Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Carpenter_(theatre)&oldid=1106727859
Notable Points
– Theatre carpenters are responsible for constructing sets and stage elements using woodworking and welding techniques.
– They receive technical drawings from the technical director and work under the supervision of a production manager, crew chief, or technical director.
– Theatre carpenters build set pieces such as flats, platforms, columns, stairs, ramps, and level the stage floor.
– Trusted riggers may also be responsible for rigging, but they do not work on anything with an electrical component.
– Large productions have a master carpenter or shop foreman overseeing multiple subordinate carpenters.
– In union houses and larger theatres, there may be distinctions between carpenters and riggers, but smaller theatres may not make this distinction due to staffing limitations.
– Professional carpenters do not paint the set, as scenic artists are responsible for that task. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpenter_(theatre)
In theatre, a carpenter is a stagehand who builds sets and stage elements. They usually are hired by the production manager, crew chief or technical director. In some less common cases, they may be hired by the director, or producer. They are usually paid by the hour.
Carpenters receive drafting from the technical director who uses the designers' renderings, models, and/or drafting of the set to create the technical drawings for the production. Working mainly with woods and metals, they use techniques that include woodworking and welding. They build set pieces, including some standard elements—flats, platforms and columns—as well as pieces of the stage. For example, a carpenter may be responsible for building stairs and ramps on and off of the performance area and for leveling the stage floor itself.
Only carpenters trained as riggers are trusted to do rigging (see fly crew). Often union houses and some larger theatres make distinctions between carpenters and riggers, but most smaller theatres do not, due to staffing limitations.
Professional carpenters do not work on anything with an electrical component (see electrician). They also do not paint the set, as this is the job of a scenic artist.
Often, stage carpentry for a large production is organized with one "master carpenter" or "shop foreman" and many subordinate carpenters.
