6 Theatre Safety Rules for Drama Teachers

Episode 142: Theatre Safety How safe is your theatre? How safety conscious are you? Do you know how to properly use the power tools in your shop? Do you know how to properly secure flats? The theatre can be a world of the imagination with a bare stage, actors and words. But if you want to add lighting, sets, or any special effects, you’re going to have to start thinking about safety. Kristi Ross-Clausen is constantly thinking about your safety and in this podcast she’s going to give you the tips and tools you need.

Lights, sound, special effects – these are the cherries on top of the sundae of your already amazing production. And for each fabulous effect that you add to your show, you’ll need an equally fabulous technician to operate each one. Most student technicians will have lots of excitement and enthusiasm but little to no prior experience and varying levels of confidence. Use these five tips to get your technicians trained and feeling confident before your upcoming production, and then sit back and enjoy both the performance and the growth of your students’ skills! • Have a technical training session BEFORE it’s time for tech and dress rehearsals. Try your best not have your technicians’ first time operating their equipment be at tech rehearsal. This training session should include both classroom instruction as well as a practical section where students can interact with the equipment hands-on. This is a great opportunity for senior students and more experienced student technicians to lead the training sessions (perhaps for extra credit or volunteer hours?). You could also format the training sessions not only for specific, upcoming productions, but also as general information sessions for any student who might be interested in learning more about theatre tech – such as students studying communication technology, music, or trades – as many of the skills are transferable. You never know who might show up, and these students could potentially be your technicians of the future! • Create a training manual for each role – sound operator, lighting operator, wireless microphone assistant, spotlight operator, video operator, and any other applicable roles for your theatre department. Make copies or give students digital access to their respective manuals in advance of the show – preferably before or during your pre-show training session. For each piece of equipment, create a step-by-step list of how to turn on, operate, and turn off the system. Include photographs or videos if possible. You also may want to post these lists in the area of the equipment for easy reference, whether that is the tech booth, backstage, or elsewhere. Go above and beyond by putting the sheets in a plastic page protector and providing a dry erase marker so technicians can physically check off each step as they go. If there is a specific teacher or person who is in charge of the technical equipment at your school, include that person’s phone number in the training manual or at the bottom of each list, in case there is an emergency. • Give technicians copies of the script (and score, if applicable) in advance so they can familiarize themselves with the show. Invite technicians to observe some run-throughs of the show so they can get an idea of what to expect when it comes to technical rehearsals. Hold a meeting with the stage manager and technicians (or even better – let your stage manager lead the meeting) to explain any changes to the script, potential challenges for the operators, and overall instructions and expectations for performance time. • Even if the student is a returning technician, do a refresher demonstration of the equipment at the first tech rehearsal with that student. It may have been a while since they have worked with the equipment and it is never a bad thing to be reminded of what needs to happen. There may also have been changes or improvements made with the equipment that the student will need to be updated on. • Wherever possible, have a less experienced student technician shadow or assist a more experienced student technician , to learn the ropes of the role and the tasks associated with it. This gives the less experienced student a great opportunity to learn through observation, gain confidence (“If so-and-so can operate this, so I can I!”), and grow the leadership skills of your more experienced student through training the newbie. Peer mentorship is always a good thing!

Once the final performance of a show is completed, what comes next? It’s time to tear down the set, clean the theatre from top to bottom, and return the space back to its regular, unadorned, clean and tidy state. This process is called the strike , and it is an important part of the theatrical process. In professional theatre, strike is handled only by specific crew members, but in school shows everyone is needed to help! It’s natural that after the final performance, everyone will be eager to get home (or, more likely, to get to a closing night party!). But the faster and more efficiently the strike is completed, the sooner everyone can get out of there. Moreover, since the full cast and crew helped to make the show, it’s only proper that the entire cast and crew work together to finish the process through the strike. Read on for four tips to help make your strike efficient, positive, and stress-free. 1. All hands on deckFrom the very beginning, make it clear that every single person (students, teachers, parent volunteers, etc.) associated with the show is expected to attend strike. This is non-negotiable. Everyone – from the actors to the crew to the producers – needs to attend strike. The phrase “Many hands make light work” applies here in spades. Include strike in your schedule from the get-go, and make it clear that everyone is to attend for the duration, whether it be right after closing night or the day after. That way the excuse “I didn’t know about it” doesn’t apply. As well, make it a rule that nobody leaves until everything is done. Letting some students leave early can create resentment: “Why did so-and-so get to leave early and I didn’t?” Everyone helps – no ifs, ands, or buts. 2. CommunicateA few days before strike, make sure to inform the full cast and crew of what needs to get done during strike. Make specific lists and post them backstage. The more people who know what’s going on, the fewer questions will have to be answered later. 3. DelegateSeparate students into groups and assign areas of responsibility to the groups. Think in terms of categories: set, costumes, props, technical areas (such as lighting and sound equipment), backstage areas, green room (if you have one), dressing rooms, washrooms, kitchen/food area, etc. Assign specific tasks to each student in the group. You could make a checklist and have students initial their tasks once they’ve been completed. Assign one member of the group to act as leader and have them sign off on the entire area once it’s complete. Once those tasks are completed, students should move to another group to assist them. There are also those last particularly tedious jobs that get left until the end, such as sweeping or emptying garbage containers. Have a master checklist with those tasks that can be assigned once the major tasks have been completed. 4. Safety firstBe sure that students wear work clothes (as they will get dirty and sweaty) and sensible, closed-toe shoes. If necessary, provide personal protective equipment such as gloves, hard hats, or dust masks. Dismantling some large sets may require the use of drills, other tools, ladders, or lifts. Only students who have been properly trained and/or certified to use these items should use them. Students must not be assigned tasks that they cannot complete safely. As well, have water and some small, healthy snacks available for your students. Everyone is generally hungry and tired after a show, and having something to nibble on can definitely help students work more effectively. What are your best tips for an effective strike? Share them with us!