Check and confirm that visuals meet requirements during rehearsal for theatre and live productions
Overview
This standard is about using the rehearsal period to make sure that visuals that will be used in live productions will achieve the desired effect. Visuals could be, but are not restricted to, projections, holograms and videos. You will need to refine designs as necessary and find practical or technical solutions to problems in advance of the press and opening night.
You will be required to prepare detailed plots of the visual aspects of productions and update them during rehearsals. You must identify where problems occur, and make and respond positively to recommendations to changes in order to meet the design requirements.
This standard is for anyone involved in making sure visuals meet requirements during rehearsal for theatre and live productions.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- attend stage technical and dress rehearsals when required
- check and confirm that visual designs continue to meet production requirements when combined with other aspects of productions
- carry out requested alterations to cues
- suggest solutions to problems in achieving desired visuals that are feasible and in keeping with design intentions
- report problems with achieving desired visuals to relevant people
- plan for back up procedures to deal with equipment failure in performance
- consult with relevant creative and technical staff to agree changes to equipment plans and plots
- make agreed alterations to existing plots, equipment plans and cue lists which maintain the overall integrity of designs
- record information for visuals
- confirm that stage management have accurate plots with cue positions incorporated into production running lists
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- the difference between rehearsals, technical rehearsals, dress rehearsals and previews and the role the designer and operator in these
- the importance of the rehearsal period in testing whether particular cues work, identifying onstage locations from which effects will operate, and whether new cues need to be added
- stage terminology and its meaning including upstage, downstage, stage left and stage right
- the range of possible problems and improvements that can be identified during rehearsal
- the organisation of the visual control position and the capabilities and operation of equipment, including fault finding and first line maintenance
- agreed backup procedures and how to operate them
- the importance of maintaining the overall integrity of designs
- the importance of providing rehearsal material and when to do so
- the importance of liaising at an early stage about projector positions and experimenting with these in rehearsal
- how lighting designs, positioning and activity can affect visuals
- the importance of plotting, modifying cues and documenting alterations to plots
- the importance of making sure that stage management have an up to date list of cues including cue points in scripts as they are envisaged at any point in time
- the importance of consulting with other creative and technical staff during rehearsal
- the importance of archiving plots for future use