Essentials of Stage Management

Peter Maccoy is a Lecturer at the Central School of Speech and Drama and an experienced stage manager. He has worked at the National Theatre and the Chichester Festival Theatre, and has toured with the Peter Hall Company and the Almeida Theatre Company. He has also worked as a pyrotechnician on large scale outdoor events, and as a stage manager on a number of industrial theatre events.

Contents List of illustrations 4 Foreword by Nicholas Hytner 5 Acknowledgements 6 Introduction 7 1. The Role of Stage Management 10 A brief history 11 Roles and responsibilities 14 Stage management beyond the UK 21 2. The Stage Manager as Manager 24 Management theory 26 Management in practice 36 Communication skills 39 Organizational skills 49 Rules and regulations 54 3. Research and Preparation 57 Initial research 58 Text analysis 58 Background research 66 Technical analysis 69 4. Preparing for Rehearsal 78 The creative team 78 Preparing for rehearsals 84 Making up the set 92 5. The Rehearsal Period 112 Phase 1: introduction - the first rehearsal 112 Phase 2: blocking 115 Phase 3: working 123 Phase 4: running 128 Managing rehearsals 129 6. The Production Period 141 Production schedule 141 The get-in and fit up 144 The technical period 156 Dress rehearsals 166 7. The Performance and Beyond 169 Managing performance 169 During the performance 178 After the performance 182 8. Stage Properties 192 Types of prop 193 Propping: first steps 196 Sourcing props 198 Working with the designer, director and cast 209 9. Safe Practice 214 Legal requirements 215 Risk assessment 217 Licensing 222 Other regulations 227 10. Contemporary Practice 229 Technology 229 New theatre forms and spaces 231 Legal obligations 232 Becoming a stage manager 233 Bibliography 237 Appendices 239 A Health and safety legislation 239 B Code of practice for health and safety demonstrations for performers and stage management 239 C Fire and evacuation procedures 240 D Risk control - managing the stage 241 E Summary of four steps to risk assessment 244 F Model technical rider 245 Index 255