From Utah comes this sad news about a high school student who died from wounds sustained backstage when a prop gun went off.

There is nothing more important in theatre than safety.

We have only one play in our catalogue that requires an onstage gun (Power Play). The following note is in the forward:

Guns are not toys. Above all else, YOU MUST take the gun use seriously and YOU MUST be safe. I strongly recommend that the gun used in the play be 100% fake. The sound of the gunshot can easily come from a sound effect. The play steps out of its world many times and makes note of the fact that it’s only a play. A theatrical solution would not be out of place.

If you use anything approaching a ‘real’ gun (even a BB gun, a cap gun, or the like) I urge you ensure a certified firearms expert be present at all rehearsals and performances.

Make safety the number one priority in your production.

This incident should serve as a reminder that safety should be considered at every stage of the theatrical process. Here are some great resources to help you get started:

• To Act in Safety - A series of documents prepared by Theatre Ontario covering safety for the prop shop, lighting, weapons, wardrobe, stage combat, and more.
• Safety Dos and Don’ts - A slide presentation from the Government of Saskatchewan
• The Theatre Safety Webpage - Prepared by the Worcester Polytechnic Institute

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