Glossary of Technical Theatre Terms
Listing of over 1400 jargon terms

Design (CAD / Visualisation) Software

• Autodesk - AutoCAD
• AutoCAD viewers
• CAD4Theatre AutoCAD training, resources and the ABTT CAD Standard
• Minicad/Vectorworks software
• Turbocad - 2D/3D CAD package from IMSIsoft
• WYSIWYG from Cast Lighting
• 3D Studio Max from Discreet
  • Max 3D
  • Maxforums
• Open Stages Software for creating theatre models (Central St Martins)
• Modelbox

Virtual Reality / Reconstruction projects

• Theatron project (University of Warwick) Virtual reconstructions of theatre sites
• The Institute for the Exploration of Virtual Realities, i.e.VR (University of Kansas)
• Computer Scenographic Studio (Darwin Reid Payne)
• Visual Assistant (University of Plymouth)

Scenic design - general / research

• Project 2000 International Design Archive
• History of Scenic Spectacle
• Stagecraft newsgroup FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) Loads of useful information.
• Ballet Russe Scenic Drop collection - full online catalogue of beautiful backdrops
• StageWork - Resources about the backstage work of the National Theatre, Bristol Old Vic and Birmingham Rep

Scenic Automation

• Stage Automation Forum - discussion about all issues relating to scenic automation
• AVW Controls - Impressario system
• Kinesys - Motion Control / controllers
• Q Motion - Stage engineering and automation
• Stage Technologies

General

• The Blue Room Technical Forum (UK)
• Fire Retardants article from fabrics.net
• Online Conversion Convert anything to anything else

Designers

• The Path Theatre & TV set design
• Roma Patel - Digital Set Design
• Ben M Rogers London-based lighting, video & scenic designer
• Fer Smidt (Netherlands)

Suppliers

Furniture

• Furnish That Room (London, UK)

Vac-forming

• A to Z Scenery - Vac-forming products / designs
• Peter Evans Studios Ltd (no website - massive range of vac-formed scenery and props)
  1, Frederick St, Luton Bedfordshire LU2 7QW
  Tel: 01582 725730 - (Luton, UK)
• Scenic Service - Specialists in vac-formed scenery (Utah, USA)

General consumables & tools

• The Modelshop (Creative Materials Centre) in London
• Flint Hire & Supply - Consumables, tools (UK)
• KW Props and Sets Custom scenic painting, construction & props etc.
• Mold Making Materials.com - Mail order - USA (Texas, Florida)

Soft Goods

• Croft Mill - Lancashire, UK
• Fabrics.shop - Curtain & upholstery fabrics (UK)
• J&C Joel Ltd - Theatrical drapes
• J.D.McDougall Ltd - Drapes, materials etc.
• See also Costume Links

Effects

• Surelight Electroluminescent wire (Sheffield, UK)

Specialist Manufacturing

• Ferretteria - Custom Wrought Iron (West Sussex, UK)

Staging

• Maltbury Staging (Metrodeck) (UK)
• Road Ready Cases (UK)
• Steeldeck
• LEL Hire (Staging hire specialists) (UK)
• Star Events Group (UK)

Hire/Supply/Manufacture of Scenery

• Albemarle (London, UK) Scenic Hire
• Clifford and Brown (Nuneaton, Warwickshire, UK) Scenic Hire
• Grosh Scenic Rentals (Hollywood, CA, USA)
• Jagprops - Props, costume, sculpting, puppet-making, set building, model-making (UK)
• Precision Scenic (Charlotte, NC, USA)
• Prosceneium (Rochdale, Lancs, UK) Scenic Hire
• Real Scenery Company (Exeter, UK) Scenic Hire
• The Border Studio - (Scotland, UK) Scenic Hire
• River City Scenic Inc. (Cincinatti, OH, USA)
• Scenic Projects (Suffolk, UK) Scenic Hire
• Set/Reset (USA) Used scenery and props for sale
• Stage Sets (London, UK) Scenic Hire
• The Stage Crew (Glasgow, UK) Scenic Hire

Training

• ABTT (Association of British Theatre Technicians)
• METIER National Training Organisations for the Arts and Entertainment Industries
• NCDT National Council for Drama Training

Unions/Associations

• BECTU
• IATSE International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (USA)
• Society of British Theatre Designers (SBTD)