Glossary – By Letter

P2
Lighting Industry Forum code which identifies the (original) recommended usage of different lamp types. P2 coded lamps are photofloods, and have a colour temperature of 3000°K. See also PHOTOFLOOD, CP, A1, T, K.
Lamps List

PA SYSTEM
Short for Public Address System.

PAC
(USA) Performing Arts Center. The building (particularly in an educational organisation) where performances are staged and/or rehearsed. 

PACE
The speed at which actors deliver their lines and perform their actions. A speed run can be useful to warm-up actors and to really make sure everyone is on form. The pacing of the show can have a real effect on how the audience react to it - it's a very tricky thing to maintain, especially as everyone gets more familiar with the show.
A fast-paced scene takes energy and concentration, and can slow down as familiarity sets in, and a slow-paced scene may speed up. Directors often wish to cut down on unnecessary pauses and delays, but also to maintain the moments of silence between speeches when needed.

PACK
See RADIO MIC.

PAD
A switch on a mixing desk input channel which attenuates (reduces the level of) a signal. Used if a loud / high level signal is causing the desk to be overloaded.

PAGE
1) See PAGING.
2) Some theatre announcement systems use the term 'PAGE' to mean making a call (e.g. 'Can you page Simon to come to the fly floor')
3) A way of increasing the functionality of a control on a lighting desk. For example, most computerised lighting desks with SUBMASTERS will allow you to store more than one lighting state in each submaster. Each group of submasters is given a page number which is used to select which set you want to use. See also SUBMASTER.

PAGEANT
(Obsolete) Brand name of a 1000W beamlight made by Strand Electric in the UK. Produced a near parallel beam and had a set of spill rings on the front to minimise glare.
A similar unit made by GB-Kalee was known as a VIGNETTE beamlight. 
Archive - Pageant

PAGING
The act of holding a tab etc. back to allow large items or actors offstage. Also preventing microphone etc cables from getting entangled by pulling / releasing them from offstage as performer walks around.

PAINT CHIP
(US term) A sample card showing examples of a particular range of paint colors. Known in the UK as a Swatch or Sample. 

PAINT FRAME
Large vertical wooden frame from which cloths are hung for painting. The frame is often winchable for easy access.

PAINT HOOD
Cabinet with extraction system used for spray painting small items for long periods of time. 
Paint spraying for small props should be carried out in the open air wherever possible. Use modern spray paints marked as having 'low VOC' (volatile organic content) which are less harmful when breathed in. 
Always wear a suitable face mask to avoid breathing anything harmful. 

PAINTER'S ELEVATION
A detailed working drawing of the paint job needed on every scenic piece or prop for a production. Each item is shown to scale, front-on, so the required paint job can be clearly seen. Scenic Artists use the elevation as a layout and color guide.

PAIRING
Connecting more than one lantern to one power outlet via an adaptor or splitter, or more than one speaker to one amplifier channel.

PAL
Phase Alternate Line. TV standard in the UK and Europe.
More about TV standards

PALETTE
On lighting control systems, a palette is a collection of references for colour, position (focus), beam type or intensity. Every cue or preset that includes the palette will be updated if the palette is modified.

PAN
1) A control on a mixing desk which allows the operator to position the channel's output in the final stereo image (L - R).
2) A horizontal (side-side) movement of a camera or a moving light. Short for Panorama. See also TILT.

PANATROPE
Gramophone with built-in valve amplifier and speakers, used to play 78rpm discs for music and sound effects. Used in the late 1940s (and probably earlier) for playing sound effects on stage.  More information coming soon.

PANCAKE
A water-activated make-up powder that is applied with a wet sponge. It's supplied as a flat, compacted powder in a circular plastic case with a lid .

PANSTICK
(Make-Up) Originally 'pancake stick'. An easily applied stick form of matt foundation, used as a base layer for theatrical make-up. See also PANCAKE. 

PANTOGRAPH
A support mechanism which supports lighting equipment in a film / TV studio situation, which allows the equipment to be adjusted in height by extending or retracting the pantograph. 
The same mechanism is used in scissor lifts. 

PANTOMIME
1) A pantomime (often shortened to Panto) is a musical-comedy family-orientated theatrical production traditionally performed in United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Zimbabwe, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar, and Malta, at Christmas-time. The panto often features slapstick or messy comedy routines, children dancing, recent songs, spectacular sets and colourful costumes, and is often themed around a fairy story or nursery rhymes.
Popular pantos include Cinderella, Aladdin, Jack and the Beanstalk, Mother Goose, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Dick Whittington and His Cat, Puss in Boots etc.
There are a number of traditions with panto, including that the baddie / villain must enter stage left, and the goodie / fairy godmother must enter stage right. The colour green is often used for the baddie, and pink for the goodie.  
2) Pantomime is an ancient type of performance with no spoken words, often now shortened to 'Mime'. 
Puss in Boots, December 2013, Hackney Empire - Audio Slideshow (The Guardian)

PAPER TECH
See TECHNICAL REHEARSAL.

PAPER THE HOUSE
Marketing technique. Giving away tickets to a performance (eg Opening Night) to make a show seem to be selling better than it actually is, and to start generating 'word of mouth' interest.

PAPER WEIGHT
A measure of the thickness of paper / card stock, measured in grams per square metre (gsm).
Standard photocopy paper is 180gsm. 

PAPERBOARD
A type of paper-based non-corrugated board over 250gsm in weight used for model-making etc. 
See also Foamboard.

PAPIER MACHE
An initially mouldable mixture of paper and glue (or paper, flour and water) which can be formed into shapes or objects. Used for mask or prop construction. The paper should be torn into strips and saturated with the glue before building up in layers around a mould or form and allowing to dry. Clay is sometimes used as a form, covered with a layer of vaseline to act as a release agent..Chicken wire is also used to provide a structure. 
From the French for chewed paper.

PAR
Short for Parabolic Aluminised Reflector lamp. A lamp containing a filament, reflector and lens in one sealed unit. Used in PARCANs to produce a high intensity narrow beam of light. Par lamps are available in many different sizes and powers. Par sizes available include 16, 36, 38, 56 and 64. (The number refers to the diameter of the lens, in eighths of an inch, so a PAR64 lamp is 8 inches across).
The most common for theatre use are Par 64s rated at 1000W (1kW), although other wattages are available.
When the lamp was first introduced, in the 1960s, it was only available from the USA in 110V versions. In the UK, Parcans were always used in pairs, via a series splitter. 110V Par lamps are still sometimes used in large UK venues or for touring due to the increased light output. Because the current is greater, the lower voltage lamps have smaller thicker filaments which give a more focussed beam than the thinner 240V filaments.
In the film business, PAR lamps are known as 'bird's eyes' after the alleged inventor Clarence Birdseye.

PAR BAR
See SIX LAMP BAR.

PARABOLIC REFLECTOR
See PAR.

PARALLEL
1) The folding frame that forms the base of a readily portable platform.
2) The opposite of SERIES when referring to wiring two loads into one outlet. The two loads share the available current, but are both given the same voltage.

PARALLEL MONOLOGUE
TO BE DEFINED

PARAMETRIC EQUALISER
Equalisation control where the range of frequencies to be boosted or cut can be selected. Allows the 'fine-tuning' of the equalisation.

PARAMETRIC SPEAKER
Highly directional speaker which produces a very narrow beam of sound using ultrasonic waves as carriers. When the ultrasonic waves collide with an object (or the listeners's head) the sound waves become audible to that person.

PARASKENE
(Greek) Towers at each side of the SKENE building.

PARCAN
Type of lantern which produces an intense beam of light, ideally suited to "punching" through strong colours, or for special effect. The Parcan is literally a cylinder of metal (the "can") within which sits the PAR lamp (PAR stands for Parabolic Aluminised Reflector) which consists of the bulb, a reflector and a lens in a sealed unit.
The PAR was originally available only as a 110V lamp, imported from the USA, where they were used as beam lights. The lamps were first introduced in the UK by concert hire company ESP in 1968 [Cue issue 1, page 14].
The Parcan was being widely used by the early 1970's in the Rock concert industry due to the intensity of the beam, and the light weight and near indestructibility of the lantern. The lens of the lamp is either clear (which produces a narrow beam), frosted (medium) or stippled (wide).
Parcan lamps are available in a range of different lens types:
UK (240V): CP60 is a narrow beam (clear lens), CP61 is medium beam (frosted lens), CP62 is wide beam (ribbed lens)
See also PAR and FLOORCAN.
Types of Lantern
Parcan Evolution and History

PARK
(ETC EOS Lighting Controls) The park instruction allows you to set a channel or parameter to a specific value and have it remain at that level on stage (live mode), prohibiting manual control override, cue or submaster playback modification.
To park channel 72 at zero, type 72 @ 0 PARK ENTER.
The standard keyboard shortcut for PARK is ALT+K.

PARKING AND BARKING
(US Colloquial) A choir or other choral group that stands on a stage ('parking') and sings traditional songs ('barking'). The term implies a disdain for this familiar style, but it's perfectly appropriate in many cases...

PARNEL
Brand name for a wash light manufactured by ETC. It's a cross between a soft-edged focussable Fresnel and a ETC Source Four PAR.
PARnel at the Backstage Heritage Collection
Types of lantern

PARODOS
Parodos (also parode and parodus, plural parodoi, Ancient Greek) is a term used in the theater of ancient Greece, referring either to a side-entrance, or to the first song sung by the chorus after its entrance from the side wings.

PARTERRE
(French: On the ground). Refers to the audience members in the pit / stalls / lowest part of the auditorium in front of the stage. Originally, the term was used in the 16th century to refer to a formal ornamental garden, but by the mid-17th century, it was increasingly used to refer both to the ground level of a theatre where spectators stood to watch performances and to the group of spectators who occupied that space.
Wikipedia entry

PASMA
UK trade association for the mobile access tower industry. The acronym stands for Prefabricated Access Suppliers’ & Manufacturers’ Association Ltd.

PASS DOOR
A fire-resisting door in the wall of the proscenium arch which is the only correct access between the auditorium and the stage.

PASSARELLE
A walkway leading beyond the proscenium arch around the audience side of the orchestra pit. Enables actors to get very close to the audience, and often used in musical theatre or cabaret performances. There are problems with sound reinforcement (feedback is much more likely due to being closer to the front of speakers) and video relays are often used as the conductor is no longer visible.
PASSERELLE means Footbridge or gangway in French.

PASSIVE
Opposite of ACTIVE. See ACTIVE.

PASSIVE SPEAKER
A speaker that needs an external amplifier to operate. It requires a speaker-level amplified signal to operate, unlike an ACTIVE speaker, which has a built-in amplifier. 
See also ACTIVE SPEAKER.

PAT TEST
Short for Portable Appliance Test. Requirement under the UK Electricity At Work Regulations (1989) to test and inspect all portable electrical equipment. This includes stage lighting equipment (lanterns, cables, portable dimmer packs etc.).

PATCH
1) (verb) The act of plugging a lantern into a dimmer (e.g. 'Can you patch circuit 12 into dimmer 18 please') or on a lighting desk allocating control channels on the desk to dimmers or fixtures in the rig - this is known as a SOFT PATCH.
If written down, this is known as a Patch Schedule or Patch List. 
2) (noun) The system for connecting lanterns to dimmers (The Patch).
The term also applies to sound - a PATCH BAY is used to connect outboard equipment into the sound desk and to connect sound desk outputs to amplifiers, and amplifiers to speakers.

PATCH BAY
See PATCH.

PATCH PANEL
A board consisting of rows of sockets into which plugs can be connected to route sound signals or power for lighting circuits. Some American systems use a Pin Plug patching system. See also PATCH.

PATCHING
1) To cross-connect lighting circuits around the stage area to a chosen dimmer. Connecting lanterns to dimmers. This is sometimes known as a hot-patch (because you are potentially patching live power). The connectors used in a hot-patch system must not permit the user to touch live connections. 
2) Using a cross-connect panel which enables any stage lighting channels to the control desk to control any dimmer or group of dimmers. Some large lighting boards have the facility for soft patching - a totally electronic way of patching. Some Rock Desks have a pin patch which allows groups of dimmers to be allocated to a particular control channel. Also applies to routing of sound signals.

PATRON
A patron is a person that gives financial (or other) support to a project. This support is known as PATRONAGE. |
See also ANGEL, BACKER.

PATTER SONG
A fast-paced rhyming song in an operetta or musical which uses wordplay and/or alliteration, and contains tongue-twisting lyrics. Examples include 'I Am The Very Model of A Modern Major General' in The Pirates of Penzance and 'Getting Married Today' from Company. 
Wikipedia entry

PATTERN
1) See GOBO.
2) See PATTERN NUMBER.

PATTERN NUMBER
Many older Strand lanterns are identified by their Patt. number (eg Patt.23 is a 500W profile). The numbers bear no direct relation to their size or type (although lanterns of a similar design may have similar Pattern numbers.) See http://www.strandarchive.co.uk for a complete listing.
TABS article by Frederick Bentham about the Pattern Numbering logic
Strand Lanterns with Pattern Numbers - Backstage Heritage Collection

PAX
Short for Private Automatic Exchange. A type of internal-only analogue telephone system used in some organisations. PABX systems added the ability to dial externally (often by pressing 9 for an outside line).

PC
Originally short for plano-convex - the basic lens shape of many lanterns / projectors. Now short for Prism- or Pebble-convex: a type of lens with a pebbled flat surface which gives a slightly harder edge than a Fresnel, but not as hard as a Profile. PC refers to a lantern with a PC lens.
Types of lantern

PCC
Phase Coherent Cardoid. See BOUNDARY MICROPHONE.

PD
(Abbreviation for Per Diem, Latin for Daily) A daily payment by an employer to touring technicians to cover daily living expenses. This is additional to the monthly / weekly wage.

PEACOCK
See SUPERSTITION.

PEARL
A domestic lamp which has a frosted finish to diffuse and soften the light.

PEAVEY
(Manufacturer) American manufacturer of amplifiers, sound processing equipment, and musical instruments.
Peavey website

PEBBLE SPOT
See PC.
Types of lantern

PELMET
A narrow strip of cloth or wood at the top of a door or window to hide the fittings. A PELMET CLIP can be used to fix a pelmet into place above a window on a piece of scenery.

PEPPERS GHOST
Optical illusion effect used to make a ghost appear on stage next to an actor. A sheet of glass is hung across the front of the stage so that the image of an actor standing in the orchestra pit appears to float on stage. First shown at the Royal Polytechnic Institution in London by J.H.Pepper on Christmas Eve, 1862. Following many subsequent events, Charles Dickens used it during readings of The Haunted Man. Several plays were written specially to use the effect around 1863, but the long-term future of the effect was limited by the fact that the ghost couldn't speak.
Peppers Ghost is now used to great effect in smaller scale applications like the Haunted Mansion in Disney theme parks.

More about Peppers Ghost
Dark Rides at Theatrecrafts.com

PER DIEMS
See PDs.

PERCENT
Dimmer levels are expressed as a percentage of the supply voltage. (100% = 230 - 240 Volts(UK)).

PERCH
1) A lighting position (often on a platform) at each side of the stage, immediately behind the proscenium.
Some theatres use the term for vertical boom positions in front of the proscenium in the house.
The plural is PERCHES. They may be named by position (e.g. Front Perch, Rear Perch, SL Perch etc).
2) An ancient unit of measurement, used since the 9th century, and abolished in the UK in 1963. One perch is equal to 16.5 feet, or 5.03 metres. 

PERFORMANCE ART
An interdisciplinary performance presented to an audience. The performance may be either scripted or unscripted, random or carefully orchestrated; spontaneous or otherwise carefully planned with or without audience participation. The performance can be live or via media; the performer can be present or absent. It can be any situation that involves four basic elements: time, space, the performer's body, or presence in a medium, and a relationship between performer and audience. Performance art can happen anywhere, in any venue or setting and for any length of time. The actions of an individual or a group at a particular place and in a particular time constitute the work.

PERFORMANCE CAPTURE
Technique used in special-effects films to transfer the facial performance of an actor on a motion capture stage onto a digitally-created avatar (creature / character). A head-worn mini-camera captures a static image of the actors' face regardless of their head movements, and their key-features (eyes, mouth) are recorded and transferred direct to the digital avatar. 
The technique was pioneered on James Cameron's Avatar and has been used on a range of projects since. 
See also MOTION CAPTURE which concentrates only on body movements, and the facial expressions are animated afterwards. 

PERFORMER FLYING
A manual or electrically driven system for lifting performers off the stage and allowing spectacular stunts and aerial sequences to be performed.

PERIAKTOI
(Greek) Term for three-sided flats mounted on a rotating base. Used in rows to produce easily changed backings. Sometimes informally known as Tobelerones (or Tobes) due to the resemblance to the triangular shape of the chocolate bar.

PERIPETEIA
From Greek. A reversal of circumstances, or turning point.
The English form of peripeteia is peripety: a sudden reversal dependent on intellect and logic.

PERSONAL PROPS
See PROPS.

PFL
See PRE-FADE LISTEN.

PHANTASMAGORIA
A form of theatre which used a modified magic lantern to project frightening images such as skeletons, demons, and ghosts onto walls, smoke, or semi-transparent screens, frequently using rear projection. The projector was mobile, allowing the projected image to move and change size on the screen, and multiple projecting devices allowed for quick switching of different images. Invented in France in the late 18th century, it gained popularity through most of Europe (especially England) throughout the 19th century.

PHANTOM POWER
Some condenser microphones require a power supply in order to operate. If this supply is not from a battery within the microphone body, it is known as a phantom power supply. It is usually 48 Volts DC (can be 9 - 52 volts from most mics), and is supplied either by a separate battery pack, or by the sound desk. The supply is termed 'phantom' because it is 'invisibly' carried down the same microphone cable as the sound signals.

PHASE
Two identical sound waves which are slightly apart in time are said to be out of phase; two identical waves are in phase.

PHASES
Electricity is generated and supplied to large installations as three separate supplies, known as phases, and labelled L1, L2 and L3 (for Line).
Until recently, the three lines were colour-coded Red, Yellow and Blue in the UK. Now, across Europe, the three lines are colour-coded brown, black and grey, with the neutral coloured blue.
Each of the phases and one neutral are supplied down a single multicore cable to the building, but effectively give three separate supplies. Because there is a potential difference (voltage) of 415 volts between any two phases and earth/ground, care must be taken that pieces of equipment powered by different phases are not capable of being touched at the same time in case of a fault.
This usually means that such equipment should not be on the same physical lighting bar, or in the same part of the studio theatre.

PHOENIX
A family of medium to large computerised lighting consoles manufactured by ADB. The desks use ISIS software running on an external PC-based processing unit which allows advanced networking possibilities.
ADB website

PHON

PHONE NUMBERS
Sometimes prop makers and script writers have to use fictional phone numbers, or create props which feature a phone number which is correct within the world of the show / film / TV project. 

UK
Area codes added a digit on 'Phoneday' which was easter Sunday 16th April 1995, where area codes that started with '0' started instead with '01' (e.g. Exeter went from 0392 to 01392).
US
Phone numbers featured in film / TV projects often use the area code 555, which is reserved for that use, and has no real customers or businesses attached. 

More to follow

PHONE PLUG
(US) 1/4' Jack plug

PHONO
Short for Phonograph. Sometimes shortened further to just 'PH'. The inputs on a audio amplifier that a vinyl record deck should be connected to. The audio level of a standard record deck is much lower than (for example) a CD player, plus there is an equalisation circuit (or there should be), which is specified by the RIAA, to overcome the colouring that a record deck adds to a recording.

PHONO PLUG
An unbalanced audio connector used for connecting line-level equipment together (eg CD player, tape recorder). Unsuitable for professional use due to lack of durability. Also known as RCA connector, Pin Plug.

PHOSPHORESCENCE
The property of some materials that can store light energy and glow in the dark.

PHOTOFLOOD
A lamp used by photographers which gives a bright white light. Because it has a thin filament, it gives a good flash effect (eg lightning), but has a relatively short life, so should not be left on for any length of time.

PHYSICAL THEATRE
Physical theatre is a genre of performance which makes use of the body (as opposed to the spoken word) as the primary means of performance and communication with an audience. In using the body, the performer or actor will concentrate on:
The use of body shape and position
Facial expressions
Rhythmical movement, pace and the energy of the body
Gesture
Posture
Gait
Physical theatre can be distinquished from dance in that it tends to focus more on narrative, character and action. However, the boundaries between the two are rather blurred.
There are various styles and genre of physical theatre. These include:
Physical comedy - where the body is the primary means of comic creation
Mime
Stomp- where the body, with external objects, is used for its percussive potential
Some forms of puppetry
Circus
The most famous institution devoted to physical theatre is the Lecoq school in Paris. Students here follow the method of Jacques Lecoq, which developed out of his experience of mask work, commedia dell'Arte and his interest in the physicality of performance.
Definition from Wikipedia - click for more
Lecoq School

PIANO BOARD
Resistance dimmer board heavily used in the USA before computerised lighting came along in the 1970s. 
Heavy construction, and ran on DC current. 

PIANO DRESS
Rehearsal in costume and with all technical facilities but using a piano as a substitute for orchestra, so that the director can concentrate on technical problems rather than musical ones (and not pay the orchestra !). Also known as a PIANO REHEARSAL.
German: Klavierhauptprobe

PIANO-VOCAL
A vocal score, or piano-vocal score, is used by singers in a musical or opera (or operetta). The vocal parts are written out in full, but the detail of the accompaniment is reduced and adapted for piano, so it can be used in rehearsals, and easily followed.

PICK-UP
1) Device which, when attached to an acoustic musical instrument, converts sound vibrations into an electrical signal.
2) A way of describing the directional sensitivity of a microphone. An Omnidirectional microphone has equal pick-up from all around, a Cardoid microphone is more sensitive from the front, a Super-Cardoid or Hypercardoid has very strong directionality from the front. A figure-of eight microphone picks up front and rear, but rejects sound from the sides.
3) The action of turning a followspot on a performer. (e.g. 'that was a good pick-up', 'your next pick-up is downstage left'). A BLIND PICKUP is on a moving performer and requires good hand-eye co-ordination. A SET PICKUP is on a specific area, is preset, and is made on a cue from the stage manager. A SIGHT PICKUP is made visually by the operator to a preset position.

PICKLE
Small handheld motor controller that plugs into a cable connected to a winch or other motorised system.

PICO PROJECTOR
A handheld digital projector, usually battery-powered. Many different models are available, with a wide range of brightness levels (measured in Lumens). Also known as mini projector, mini beamer, pocket projector.

PICTURE CAR
A car / van / bus / other vehicle that appears in front of the camera during a film / TV shoot. Many picture cars have become famous (e.g. K.I.T.T. from Knight Rider, the DeLorean from Back to the Future). See also ACTION VEHICLE.

PIGTAIL
(USA) A short wire used to extend an existing electrical circuit or to add an additional link to an existing circuit. 
Term not recognised in the UK. Work on electrical systems should only be carried out by qualified electricians. 

PILE-ON SUBMASTER
See SUBMASTER.

PILOT
(TV) A single episode of a newly written TV series, produced to see if there is any interest from a TV network in buying the concept and investing in a full series. 

PILOT HOLE
A narrow hole drilled into a piece of wood (or into multiple pieces of wood that are to be screwed together)  so that when a larger screw is driven into the wood, it does not split the wood. 

PIN HINGE
Backflap Hinge with removable pin used to join two pieces of scenery together (ie one half of the hinge is on each piece of scenery).
Originally manufactured by Triple E in the UK. 
Triple E Pin Hinge at the Backstage Heritage Collection

PIN PATCH
See PATCHING.

PIN PLUG
See PATCHING, PHONO PLUG.

PINK CONTRACT
IATSE contract for Broadway or touring sound engineers between IATSE and the Broadway League. Known as a 'Pink'.  
Pink Contract on the IATSE website

PINK NOISE
Random sounding audio noise containing all frequencies in the audio spectrum tuned to the response of the human ear. Used with a Spectrum Analyser to set equalisation equipment for a large PA installation. However, the human ear is still a better judge of how a system sounds. See also WHITE NOISE.

PINKING SHEARS
Scissors with sawtooth edges as blades which produce a uniformly zigzagged edge instead of a straight cut. The edge reduces the likelihood that the woven cloth will fray. 

PINSPOT
1) A lantern focused very tightly on a small area (eg an actors head) - a pin spot.
2) A luminaire used widely in disco installations, consisting of a low voltage (6V) Par 36 lamp (lamp code is 4515) with a very narrow beam in a metal case with built in transformer.
Pinspots are ideal for lighting MIRRORBALLs.

PIPE AND DRAPE (P&D)
A method for screening off an area, creating a booth, or creating wings for a stage. Uses vertical scaffolding in a boom base (known as a tank trap) or telescopic lighting stands to support a system of horizontal scaffold tubes ('pipe'). Black curtains ('drapes') are attached to the pipe either using ties that are part of the drape, or by threading the pipe through a sleeve / pocket in the drape, or by using other fixings such as zip ties / cable ties through eyelets in the drape.

PIPE ENDS
Lanterns hung at the very ends of lighting bars - used for crosslight and very common in dance or musical theatre.

PIPES
US term for the bars on which scenery and lanterns are flown.

PIT
Short for ORCHESTRA PIT. The area housing the orchestra or band. Originally, a lower section between the front of the stage and the audience, although now describes any area around the stage housing the musicians. 
The term was used in the Globe Theatre in London for the lower area immediately in front of the stage where the 'groundlings' watched the performance. This area was also known as the YARD.

PIT NET
Protective net across the orchestra pit to prevent any objects (or actors) falling from the stage and injuring musicians.

PITCH
1) The frequency of a sound defines the pitch. A higher frequency gives a higher pitch note. See PITCH CONTROL.
2) The seat pitch is the distance between one row of audience seating, and the same point on the next row. 

PITCH CONTROL
Facility on some sound playback devices for changing the speed of playback, and thus the pitch or frequency of the sound, to match an existing sound, or to fit a particular timeslot. Some Professional CD players have tempo controls which speed up the playback, and then compensate for the resulting increase in frequency using a pitch change. This results in the ability to match the beat of a CD in a disco situation, without the 'Pinky and Perky' effect.

PIXEL MAPPING
The ability with some advanced lighting desks and LED lighting fixtures to make each LED component within the fixture respond to a video signal. With a large number of LED fixtures, incredible fluid effects are possible that would take days to program manually.

PLACES
Call by Stage Management for actors to take their places for the start of a scene / show. 'Places please everybody'.
See also BEGINNERS.
See Calls and Cans

PLAN
A scale drawing showing a piece of scenery, the whole set, lighting layout etc from above.
Lighting plans are usually drawn onto the theatre's GROUNDPLAN, which shows the whole stage and (at least) the front row of audience, and has the scenic design drawn onto it. The groundplan usually includes the permanent flying bars in the venue, often drawn down the side of the plan on both sides of the stage. 
A view from the side of the set (or a piece of scenery) is known as an SECTION, usually a slice through the centre line of the stag, showing the stage floor, vertical heights of scenery, lighting bar (and flown scenery) positions, and also lighting positions in the auditorium, and is used for checking lighting angles etc. 
An ELEVATION is a similar vertical slice through the venue, or individual scenic elements, and can be drawn from the front, back or side, depending on where the important detail is.
A FLOOR PLAN shows the layout of furniture / scenery for a particular show, or for an individual scene. It shows the stage area only. 
A RENDERING shows how the audience will see the set, from the auditorium, and is often in full-colour. A different rendering may be done for each scenic layout used in the show. 

PLANE
Woodworking tool used to shape wood by running a blade over it.

PLANT
1) One of the main characters in The Little Shop Of Horrors, a stage musical. The plant is named Audrey II, and there are (at least) 3 size variations on it during the course of the show, each of which needs to have various capabilities. Audrey II can be hired from scenic companies across the world. 
2) A member of the production team who is placed in the audience to take part in a key part of the show, while appearing to be a randomly selected member of the audience (also known as a STOOGE)

PLASA / P.L.A.S.A.
Professional Lighting and Sound Association (UK).
See ESTA for the American equivalent.
PLASA website

PLASTER LINE
See SETTING LINE.

PLATE REVERB
Reverb effect produced using a large metal plate. A signal is supplied to an acoustic transducer at the edge of the plate, causing vibrations which are picked up by transducers at other locations on the plate. This type of reverb can be simulated by some digital effects units.
See also SPRING REVERB

PLATFORM STAGE
Acting area raised from the floor either in a non-theatre space or in an unusual part of a theatre space. The raised area has no proscenium arch.

PLAY
A piece of text containing lines and stage directions designed to be performed live on a stage in front of an audience. 
A play rarely contains wordy prose descriptions of locations or scenarios, but sometimes the layout of a scene is described at the start of the scene to enable the production team and actors to see quickly what elements the stage set should consist of. The design of the stage (the layout, materials, finishes and colours used) is the job of the set designer. The director of the play works with the actors to bring the text to life, which may involve a large reworking of the original playwrights descriptions of the scene. A performing licence is required from the plays' publishers to give permission for the play to be performed, which will involve a payment for royalties to the playwright. This licence may also involve stipulations that the text must be performed exactly as written with no additions or omissions. 
A Teleplay is a script written or adapted for a television production.
A Screenplay is a script for a TV or Film production. 
See also MUSICAL, RADIO PLAY. 

PLAY AS CAST
Contract drawn up for an actor when casting is not complete.

PLAYBACK
The part of a computerised lighting control desk which enables the operator to recall cues from the electronic memory.

PLAYBILL
1) A poster advertising a forthcoming variety show, originally shown with a list of the acts performing.
2) (US) Brochure produced for American theatres as a wrap around for the programme of a particular show. The wraparound content is the same for all theatres across the country and contains news, features and advertising.
3) Also used as a generic name for the programme of a theatre production (listing scenes, cast, creative team, and possibly an article by the creative team about the creation of the show etc.)
Playbill website

PLAYING SPACE
The amount of physical stage-space available for performers. This excludes the offstage areas.

PLAYLET
A short play (of around a few minutes long), performed by up to 4 people. Can help with teaching of drama and scene construction, and can be used to explore different viewpoints of a topic in a non-teaching situation.

PLAYWRIGHT
The author of a play. Also known as a dramatist.

PLC
Acronym for Programmable Logic Controller. An industrial computer custom-designed to control electrical equipment, first introduced in 1968 to control manufacturing equipment in factories. The PLC software is very reliable and is used in many different industries, including to control scenic automation equipment.

PLENUM SPACE
A plenum space is a part of a building that can facilitate air circulation for heating and air conditioning systems, by providing pathways for either heated/conditioned or return airflows, usually at greater than atmospheric pressure. Space between the structural floor and the dropped ceiling or under a raised floor is typically considered plenum; however, some drop-ceiling designs create a tight seal that does not allow for airflow and therefore may not be considered a plenum air-handling space.

PLEXIGLASS
(Trade Name) Transparent acrylic plastic sheet, used to replace glass in situations (e.g. on stage) where real glass is a safety risk. 
Plexiglass is a made by cell-casting acrylic, rather than the cheaper extrusion method used for many acrylic products. 

PLOT
1) List of preparations and actions required of technical crews during the performance (eg Sound Plot = list of sound cues and levels in running order.) In the US, the term plot refers to a plan. (eg Light Plot = scale plan showing lighting instruments). See also RUNNING PLOT, STATE PLOT.
2) Session during which lighting states are created or checked with the director, on stage, with furniture and stand-in actors. This is also the name for the session during which sound levels are set (but this should not happen at the same time as the lighting plot!). 
3) The basic story thread running through a performance / play which gives the reason for the character's actions.

PLOT POINT
The moment during a play (or film, or story) when something significant happens to the characters or their situation which upsets the current course of action. For example, in the movie Titanic, when the ship hits the iceberg, that's a major plot point.

PLOTTING SESSION
Time during which the plot for each department is prepared (eg Lighting Plotting session). Also known as The Plot. 
See also PLOT. 

PLUG
A power or signal connector with a pin or pins which is used to make a connection from a power or signal source (the socket) to a device or another connector. 
Plugs are not used as a source of power, because of the risk of electrocution by touching the fully exposed pin connections. 
Sockets, where the connection is shielded, are used as the source. 

PLUMB LINE
A slim weight (known as a plumb bob) on a thin string used to determine a vertical line on a large piece of upright scenery or suspended cloth. 

PLY
Short for Plywood.

PM
Short for PRODUCTION MANAGER.

PMSE
Abbreviation for Programme-Making and Special Events. Licence required in the UK to use radio mics, walkie talkes etc of certain types for TV/Film/Events production.
UK Ofcom Page

PNEUMATIC
A system using pressurised gas to create mechanical motion. In theater, pneumatic systems are used to move heavy objects such as seating platforms or permanent scenic features on air castors. Older theaters may have pipe organs which operate pneumatically, or inflatable structures for specific productions. Pneumatic tools such as paint sprayers and nailguns are also used.

PODGER
A ratchet spanner with a long bar to use as a lever to tighten the bolt.
See also Quad Spanner

POINT
The rigging point or hanging point to which the lifting machine or suspension component is rigged. Can be temporary ('rigging the points'), or permanent, 'the house points' for example.
Submitted by Chris Higgs

POINT CUE
A cue inserted during / after plotting between two existing cues. (eg 8.5 is inserted between cues 8 and 9). Most computer lighting desks have the ability to either insert an additional cue in a sequence, or to link to another cue out of the sequence, and then link back again. Inserting cues into a plotted sequence on a manual lighting desk is more awkward, because it is a running plot (where only the changes between cues are noted down). Stage Management may prefer to call 8A instead of 8.5, but this is down to personal preference.
Sound cues which relate to an already-running cue within a sequence should have lettered cues (e.g. 8A is a fade up of Cue 8 and 8B is the fade out).

POINT OF ATTACK
(Playwriting) The moment that the audience begin experiencing the world of the play. This is the first thing the audience see happening when the play begins. 
A Late Point of Attack occurs when the play begins while the situation is already in progress, and the audience discovers information about the nature of the situation after it has already begun. 

POISE
The confident and assured manner in which an actor holds themselves - how they present, how they move, how they stand. 

POLE OPERATION
A mechanical means whereby pan (horizontal rotation), tilt (up and down) and focus of a lantern may be adjusted by a pole from floor level. Commonly used in TV & Film studios where fast resetting of positions is necessary.

POLYSTYRENE
Also known as Beadboard (US) or Styrofoam (brand name), this lightweight synthetic material is ideal for carving rough shapes for use on stage. It should always be treated with a fire-proofing product before being used on stage, as it's highly flammable. Products such as Rosco Foamcoat add this fireproofing as well as providing a primed surface which is ready for painting.

POP SCREEN
A thin gauze screen placed between a singer and a microphone to reduce vocal 'popping' and other breath noise. This noise is particularly produced by pronunciation of plosive sounds (P, B, T).

POP SHIELD / POP FILTER
A foam shield placed over the end of a microphone to reduce the pick up of vocal 'popping' and external wind noise.

PORTA REGIA
('Royal Door') The central entrance in the scaenae frons, the permanent architectural background to the stage of a Roman theatre. 

PORTAL
An archway made by combining wings/legs and border. Also a decorative framing, columns and pediments or filigree or other that frames the stage.
In Dutch, the portaalbrug (portal bridge) is a heavy-duty portal consisting of a horizontal bridge with a lighting bar mounted below it, along wtih two vertical legs. 

PORTFOLIO
A portfolio is a collection of work that a creative artist takes to a job interview to visually demonstrate their skills. 
Online portfolios are more common now. 
A portfolio for a member of a stage management team may consist of paperwork / systems of organisation they have created, as well as examples of props they've made as demonstrations of skills. 

POST-MORTEM
(Latin: After Death) After a production or project has ended, a review of what went wrong (and what went well) is recommended, to learn from mistakes or successes, to ensure the next production / project goes more smoothly. This is known as a Post-Mortem (which is also the name of an examinaton of a body after death to identify the cause of death). 

POST-SHOW DISCUSSION
An occasional chance for the audience to stay in the auditorium after a performance to hear the director or actors talk about the performance, and to answer questions from the audience.

POSTER
Advertising material for an event. The poster contains the name of the event, the date and time, cost of ticket, how to get a ticket, and where the event is taking place. It should also contain information (for example, a recommended minimum age) that may prevent a person booking. It should have an appropriate design for the type of event, and often contains a photograph or image as a background to the textual information. Some memorable posters are very simple in design. Website and social media links can also be included on the poster.
Other advertising materials could include fliers (small versions of the poster, with additional information on the back), newspaper adverts, radio adverts, TV spots, T shirts, other apparel (baseball caps, beanies) etc.
The UK design agency Dewynters is responsible for many iconic posters for West End shows - their approach is to make the poster image strong enough to be seen even if it's passing by at speed (e.g. on a bus or being seen from a car). Their most famous posters (e.g. Phantom of the Opera or Cats) are successful due to the strong 'logo' design which carries a simple message about the show, and can be recognised at a glance. 
Italian: Locardina
UK National Theatre Posters Gallery
UK Theatre Posters by Dewynters at the Victoria & Albert Museum

POUNCE
A pounce is a craft paper stencil with small holes punched (or pounced) through it following the lines of a design or layout. The stencil can be applied to a piece of set, and a piece of chalk or charcoal or powdered paint is rubbed onto the stencil so that colour is transferred through the pin holes. Alternatively, a pounce bag (coarsely woven cloth bag containing chalk or charcoal) is repeatedly applied to the stencil so that the chalk or charcoal is transferred through the stencil to the scenic piece.
National Theatre Scenic Painting - Pouncing

POV
(Film-making) A Point-Of-View shot, with the camera in the same place as one of the actors' faces, so other actors are looking into the camera. The camera acts as the eyes of one of the characters. 

POWER AMPLIFIER
Converts sound signals of line level (approx 1 volt) into tens of volts, with currents of around 1 Amp to drive speakers.

POWER FACTOR
The power factor of an electrical system is the relationship between the power that should be used by the system, and the power that is actually being used. Stage lighting dimming systems, and newer innovations such as LED and fluorescent lighting can have very low power factors, which can result in very inefficient use of the electrical supply.
Large lighting installations should use power factor correction equipment to increase the power factor.
Power Factor information

POWER FORMULA
The electrical power (wattage) of a device can be found by multiplying the voltage by the current used by the device. 
Watts = Volts x Amps. This is known in the USA as the West Virginia formula (W=VA). 
It follows that, as the Voltage is a constant in a given system, the current consumed by a device can be found by dividing Watts by Volts. (e.g. in the UK, 1000 Watts / 230 Volts = 4.35 Amps)
It's useful to be able to work out the current, as all dimmer systems have fuses to protect each circuit. In the UK each dimmer is usually 10 Amps (so two 1000 Watt instruments can be used on each dimmer (8.7 Amps) without blowing the fuse. 
More on Dimmers, Watts and Fuses

POWERCON
Power connector rated at 20 Amps with the same body type as the SPEAKON speaker connector. Manufactured by Neutrik. Used extensively on lighting patch panels (at least in the UK) due to its smaller physical size and lower cost than the standard 15A socket.
The blue connector is for power inlet, the grey connector is power outlet. The types are not interchangable, and cannot be plugged into Speakon sockets.
NB: The powerCON connector is not designed to be connected under load conditions, so should only be connected / disconnected with the power OFF. The newer TRUE1 connector can be disconnected with the load connected, and newer equipment is using this connector type instead of the older powercon. 
Neutrik Powercon page

POWERPOINT
(Trade Name) Microsoft program for displaying slides on a PC. Has become the standard for simple slide-based presentations.

PPE
(UK - Health & Safety) Abbreviation of Personal Protective Equipment. The equipment that's needed depends on the task and risk assessment but could include: steel toe-capped boots / shoes, protective headgear, gloves etc.

PPM
(Peak Programme Meter) Meter, often with green/red LED's, giving an accurate indication of the electrical nature of an audio signal (see also VU Meter).

PRACTICAL
Any object which appears to do onstage the same job it would do in life, or any working apparatus (eg light switch or tap).
A window within the set which has to open is a practical window.
Light fittings which have to light up on the set are called Practicals, and if they're suspended from the rig, they're Hanging Practicals. 

PRATFALL
A rehearsed fall or tumble, often landing on ones' buttocks, for comic effect. 
New York Times: How to Pratfall

PRE-FADE LISTEN
Often shortened to PFL. Control on a sound mixing desk which allows the user to check the presence of a signal, and its quality before bringing up the fader. Also vital for fault-finding, where the route of a signal can be PFL'ed around the desk until the point where the fault occurs. Also known as CHECK and CUE.

PRE-HANG
(Lighting) Rigging the stage lighting equipment required for a show in advance of the show arriving at the venue. 

PRE-RIG
A section of the lighting rig which has been set up in advance of arriving at the theatre, or that remains rigged and tours into different venues as a complete unit. An example is a Six Lamp Bar - this is a bar rigged with 6 Par64 lanterns for rock and roll concerts, which has a single multi-way Socapex or Lectriflex connector which plugs it into the dimming system. 
Larger tours now have trusses pre-rigged with moving lights straight from the truck. 

PREFADE / POSTFADE
An output from a sound desk is said to be prefade if it is independent of the channel fader. If it is postfade, the level of the output is relative to the channel fader.

PREFOCUS CAP
A type of lamp base which ensures that the filament is correctly lined up relative to the reflector and lens.

PREHEAT / PRE-HEAT
Smoother lighting builds from zero are achieved when a tungsten lamp filament has been warmed (at approx 15%) in the previous state.
Preheating lamps MAY prolong the life of the lamp by reducing the thermal 'shock' of going to 100% instantly. It's good practice to preheat lamps where possible, and some computerised lighting desks provide this function at the push of a button.
This is not required for LED or discharge sources.
See also RIG CHECK.

PRELIMINARIES
Information or details about the project that are considered before the main planning process begins. 

PRELUDE
(Trade Name) Range of 500W/650W lanterns produced by Rank Strand (now Strand Lighting) in the UK.
Strand Lighting website
Strand Archive

PREMIERE
(Trade Name) Software program by Adobe used for editing of digital video.
Adobe website

PREPRODUCTION
Planning phase of production before actors rehearse (or sometimes have even been cast) and before sets are built. Brings together the production team in discussions about style, possibilities and budgets.

PRESENTATIONAL ACTING
TO BE DEFINED

PRESET
1) Anything in position before the beginning of a scene or act (eg Props placed on stage before the performance, lighting state on stage as the audience are entering.)
2) The process of putting any part of the production into its' starting position / setting. A Preset Checklist is used by stage management and all other technical teams, to ensure that everything is correctly set to start the show.  
3) An independently controllable section of a manual lighting board which allows the setting up of a lighting state before it is needed. Each preset has a master fader which selects the maximum level of dimmers controlled by that preset. A control desk with two presets is sometimes known as a '2 scene preset' desk. 

PRESHOW
The period before the performance begins, when the audience may be in the front-of-house areas, or even in the auditorium. 
The preset (pre show lighting state) is shown on stage, and can be used to set the mood for the performance. Preshow music or a soundscape is also used for the same reason. 

PREVIEW
1) A performance (or series of performances) before the 'official' opening night. Previews are used to run the show with an audience before the press are allowed in to review the show. This allows technical problems to be ironed out while ensuring the cast and creative team get audience feedback. Tickets are sold at reduced price and help to spread word of mouth interest in the show.
2) A function on some memory lighting control desks with video mimics. Preview enables the operator to see the levels of dimmers and other information in a lighting state other than that on stage.

PREVISUALISATION
Computerised tools which enable design teams to show directors and other members of the production team how lighting, scenery or scenic automation will look before the set is even built. See WYSIWYG.
Visualisation

PRIMARY COLOURS
The primary additive colours of light are red, green and blue, and the subtractive colours are cyan, magenta and yellow.
The primary colours of paint are different - they're cyan, magenta and yellow (although you may have been taught they're red, blue and yellow). 

PRINCIPALS
The main or lead actors in a show.

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PRISM
A multi-faceted lens that splits the light beam in a moving light (or other effects light) into multiple beams. Particular effective when used with gobos. 

PROCEDURAL AUDIO
Term for realistic sounding audio which is synthesised in real time on demand by software. This could be triggered by physical actions on a set or by movement sensors or infrared camera feeds, or at random. Seen as a possible future for sound design for theatre & film, and to increase the variety of audio present in gaming applications.

PROCESS SHOT
(Film/TV) A sequence featuring a projection of a pre-recorded scene as its' background. Commonly used for car driving sequences (where the car and actors are on a soundstage, and the background of the road and other cars is projected on a screen behind the car). This technique enables high-quality audio to be recorded, and the actors to concentrate on their performance, and is far cheaper than taking a film crew out on the road. 

PRODUCER
That person or body responsible for the financial and contractual side of a production. This can include the raising of money to stage the production, hiring the facilities, employing the technical crew, front of house and publicity staff, director and cast. The producer usually works closely with the director before embarking on a production.
A person who provides the finance directly is known as an ANGEL.
Submitted by Alan Williamson

PRODUCING HOUSE
See RECEIVING HOUSE.

PRODUCTION DESK
Table in the auditorium at which director/designer etc sit during rehearsals (especially technical rehearsals). Usually has its own lighting and communications facilities. 
For small venues the desk is used by the lighting designer and her/his team so that they can see the lighting from the audiences' point of view. The lighting control desk may be moved to the production desk, or the desk and programmer may remain in the control room, and have a remote interface on the production desk, which may have a display screen showing the cue list etc, which the designer can configure. 
Larger shows (including Broadway and West End) will often remove large sections of audience seating in the stalls and install a number of production desks for all technical areas including lighting, projection, sound, scenic automation etc. 

PRODUCTION ELECTRICAN
Member of the electrics team in a theatre (or contracted by a production) who is responsible for the technical preparation of the lighting rig. The interpretation of this role is varied depending on the size of the production / venue. It may include taking the lighting plan and generating paperwork such as lists of equipment, colour gel requirements, circuit hookups (which dimmer connects to which socket in the rig / which DMX channel) etc. They are also likely to be responsible for ordering / preparing additional equipment for the rig (e.g. boom stands), preparing the rig for focussing etc.
Also known as Prod LX. 

PRODUCTION MANAGER
(UK) Responsible for technical preparations, including budgeting and scheduling of productions. This role in the US is usually known as TECHNICAL DIRECTOR.

PRODUCTION MEETING
A gathering of key production staff during the months leading up to a performance or event. The aim of the meeting is to come to an agreement about any questions raised during rehearsals or the construction phase, to deal with any budget problems, confirm detailed schedules and to keep the process moving forward successfully. Decisions should be written down and circulated to those present and anyone that couldn't make the meeting. 

PRODUCTION NUMBER
A musical routine / song with a heavy dance component, usually performed by the majority of the cast of a musical, with a sense of showbiz and sparkle.

PRODUCTION PROCESS
The procedure of conceiving, organizing and realizing a show from planning, to design and building, to rehearsals, and to opening.

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PRODUCTION SOUND ENGINEER
Often shortened to PE. Works alongside the Sound Designer to help in translating artistic ideas into equipment (and installing it).

PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER
Shortened to PSM. The Production Stage Manager acts as the overseer of a large stage management department, especially where multiple shows are being worked on, each with their own stage management team. 
The PSM co-ordinates production work across the organisation, especially focussing on the technical / production aspects and logistics. 
See also Company Stage Manager. 

PROFESSIONAL
Normally used for someone who's regularly paid for a particular job (as opposed to an amateur, who does it for fun). A professional attitude is essential when working in the theatre - this means you have to behave as if you were being paid. The theatre world is a very small community - if you behave badly or upset someone, it's highly likely you'll meet them again, and they will remember you!

PROFILE
1) A type of lantern with at least one plano-convex lens which projects the outline of any chosen shape placed in its gate, sometimes with a variable degree of hardness/softness. Profiles include four beam-shaping metal shutters, a gate to take an iris or gobo and an adjustment to make the beam smooth and even ('flat') or hot in the centre ('peaky'). See Bifocal Spot, Zoom Profile.
2) Shaped piece of scenery added to the edge of a flat instead of a straight edge. Also known as a cutout.
3) Blocking notation for an actor that is facing directly offstage. Right Profile is facing off stage right, Left Profile is facing off stage left. 
Types of Lantern
Blocking Notation

PROGRAMME
A brochure or leaflet produced for the audience which contains a breakdown of the cast and creative team (and technical team) that have worked on the show. The programme may also contain a synopsis of the plot, a list of musical numbers, a note from the director, and full biographies of cast and creative team.
A Souvenir Programme contains full colour photos and more generic information which has a longer shelf life for a long-running show.

PROJECTION
1) Slides are used to project still archive images or textures. Libraries of slides contain images for every occasion. Kodak Carousel projectors are the industry standard, and some types can be linked to a controller to perform complex dissolves and fades from one projector to another. More powerful projectors are available using very intense discharge sources and large format glass slides to produce a massive image.
2) Lighting effects : Moving cloud / rain / fire effects can be achieved using a powerful lantern known as an effects projector with a motorised glass disc painted with the required effect. An objective lens is required in front of the disc to focus the image. See Effects.
3) Gobos : See GOBO.
4) Film : 35mm film projection is common in many theatres as a device for keeping the building open to the public when productions are in preparation. 16mm film projection is used in smaller venues. Film projection can, of course, also be integrated into a performance.
5) Data: Data or Video projection is now being used to bring video and computer images to the large screen. Data projectors are considerably cheaper and more versatile than other methods, and the quality is improving all of the time. Images can be front projected or back/rear projected depending on the amount of space and the effect required. For example, if actors are required to walk in front of the screen and not have the image appearing on them, back projection is the only answer.
6) Front Projection: The projector(s) are in front of the projection surface or screen, between the screen and the audience. This results in a bright image, but means that actors standing directly in front of the screen may cast a shadow on the screen (and have projection on their faces). 
7) Rear Projection / Back Projection: The projector is behind the projection surface. This means the projection image will be reversed from the point of view of the audience (all data projectors have a setting to flip or mirror the image). A standard white cloth or sheet can be used, but the image will be dimmer than it would be from the front, and (most importantly) the projector lens will be visible as a bright hot spot in the projection. To avoid this, a custom-made back projection screen should be used. Companies such as Rosco sell back projection (BP) material (a translucent plastic) which results in a very bright and clear image, and which prevents the visibility of a projection hot spot. The BP material can be stapled to a frame to form a screen of the exact size needed for the event. 
See LCD, DLP, SCREEN.

PROLOGUE
Short scene or speech before the main action of the play to put it into context or set the scene. See also EPILOGUE.

PROMENADE
Form of staging where the audience moves around the performance space and sees the play at a variety of different locations. See also IMMERSIVE THEATRE.

PROMPT BOOK
Master copy of the script or score, containing all the actor moves and technical cues, used by stage management to control the performance. Sometimes known as the 'book', Prompt Copy or Prompt Script. The member of stage management (often the DSM) cueing the show is said to be 'On the Book'. (e.g. 'Clare's on the book for the next show').
As well as the script and/or score of the show, the prompt book also contains contact lists for all concerned with the production, information about the venue(s), show reports, local amenities, emergency procedures and any other information that may be needed during the run of the show. It's rightly known as the production 'bible'.
See the link below for details of how to construct a prompt book. 
The Prompt Book

PROMPT COPY
See PROMPT BOOK.

PROMPT CORNER
Area, traditionally on the stage left side of the stage, from which the stage manager (or DSM) controls ('prompts') the performance, from the prompt desk.

PROMPT DESK
The control centre of the show. The desk should contain most of the following: a clock, low level lighting, a flat surface for the prompt script, communication facility to other technical departments, a phone for emergency, rear and front of house calls system and cue light controls.

PROMPT SCRIPT
See PROMPT BOOK.

PROMPT SIDE (PS)
Usually stage left side of the stage, containing the prompt corner.

PROMPTER
Person whose role is to follow the text of a play, and be ready to remind the actors of their lines if they forget them. In many older theatres, there is a prompt box downstage centre sunk into the stage (known as the Prompters' Shell), so that only the prompter's head is above stage where they can see the actors.
Prompting in German is known as Soufflage, and the Prompter is the Souffleur.
The Prompters Shell is known as the Concha del Apuntador in Spanish.

PROP ROOM
Either a room in which the theatres' collection of props is stored, or an offstage room where props for the show are kept, ready for the actors to pick them up.

PROPERTIES
See PROPS.

PROPERTIES MANAGER
The Props Manager / Properties Manager is in charge of the stock of props at a theatre.
In the UK, the ASM (Assistant Stage Manager) is often responsible for propping a show (finding/buying props and organising the making of additional ones). Larger organisations might have a Prop Manager who is responsible for sourcing the props required for a show (or a series of shows).

PROPERTY DESIGNER
Also known as a Prop Designer. Specialist member of the design team, often working alongside the set designer, who is given the responsibility for designing specific props for a theatre, film or TV project. 
In theatre, many props are found, either from stock in a prop store, or in charity shops, or bought from local shops or online. The task here is matching props to the requirements of the script and/or the vision of the director & designer. Propping (sourcing props) isn't seen as a design task, until the prop has to be built from scratch, or where an existing object is enhanced with additional designed elements to disguise it, or to add functionality to it. 

PROPERTY MASTER / PROP MASTER
Member of the creative team who has responsibility for all of the PROPS used in the production (US).

PROPPING
The task, often performed by stage management in the UK, or by the scenic designer in a small company, of going around finding / borrowing / buying / making props for the production.
It's essential that a clear record is kept of the source of the props so that they can be efficiently returned at the end of the show. Reference books are used to ensure the items are correct for the time period of the production.

PROPS
(Properties) Furnishings, set dressings, and all items large and small which cannot be classified as scenery, electrics or wardrobe, and which actors interact with. Props directly handled by actors are known as HAND PROPS, props which are kept in an actors' costume are known as PERSONAL PROPS.

PROPS TABLE
Table in convenient offstage area on which properties are prepared prior to a performance and to which they should be returned after use. 
The table is usually marked out with a grid around each item, so it's easy to see when something is missing, and to do preshow checks that everything is ready to use. 
The preparation and checking of the props tables is the responsibility of the ASM (Assistant Stage Manager). 

PROS.ARCH
Short for Proscenium Arch.

PROSCENIUM
See PROSCENIUM ARCH.

PROSCENIUM ARCH
The opening in the wall which stands between stage and auditorium in some theatres; the picture frame through which the audience sees the play. The "fourth wall". Often shortened to Proscenium or Pros Arch.
In some older theatres, the Proscenium Arch is ornate and painted to contrast with the surrounding walls, to really make it stand out. Nothing outside the Proscenium Arch was part of the show.
However, as there are many different audience layouts now, many theatres (particularly multi-purpose studio theatres) have no Proscenium Arch at all, or it may not be decorated as such.
See END ON.
Italian: Boccascena
French: cadre de scène

PROSHOT
A professionally-filmed version of a live stage show. Most shows will have short excerpts filmed for promotional purposes or for trailers, but not all can afford the high costs of filming the entire performance. 
Playbill: Why You Can/'t Stream Broadway Shows

PROTAGONIST
The leading character or 'hero' in a play who has to fight against / oppose the ANTAGONIST.
This term derives from the theatre of Ancient Greece when the Protagonist was the first actor to speak (aside from the CHORUS). As more 'lead' actors were added, they became known as the Deuteragonist and Tritagonist.

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PROTOCOL
See MULTIPLEX.

PROXEMICS
Proxemics means the distances between character/actors in a play. It shows their relationships and feelings. e.g. if two characters stood far apart from each other you could assume that they either did not know each other at all, or had fallen out and were no longer speaking to each other.

PROXIMITY EFFECT
A change in microphone response as a vocalist (or sound source) moves away from it.

PSN
PosiStageNet Protocol, developed by MA Lighitng and VYV. Uses high speed ethernet communications between stage devices, partciularly for stage automation. 

PSU
Power Supply Unit.

PSYCHOACOUSTICS
Psychoacoustics is the branch of psychology concerned with the perception of sound and its physiological effects. 
The Haas Effect is used to trick audience members into believing the source of a sound is the stage, rather than a nearby speaker with a slight delay on the sound. 
MP3 audio compression uses psychoacoustics to remove sounds that are masked by others to reduce the file size. 

PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM
The venue auditorium sound system. Usually shortened to "PA". Most theatres will have a separate sound system for emergency announcements in all public areas of the theatre. This system may also be used for Front of House calls. The Rear of House calls system often also acts as a SHOW RELAY, conveying the sound of the performance to remote parts of the theatre building.

PUBLIC RELATIONS
Department in the theatre (or any company) which deals with the public image of the theatre. Sometimes known as the MARKETING DEPARTMENT.
Marketing information on Theatrecrafts.com

PUBLICITY
The department in the theatre whose job it is to entice the audience into the theatre, and to tell them what they need to know in order to get the most from the production.

PUDDLE PLOT
A simple way to lay out a complex lighting rig, either on paper or on a magic sheet in lighting software. Large shapes / blobs are used to depict areas of the stage or particular rig functions, so they can be easily selected or entered into the lighting software. 

PULL
The amount of electrical power required by a touring show in a venue.

PULL FOCUS
1) (Film-making) To change the focal distance setting on a camera so that an object either comes into sharp focus, or is defocussed sometimes so that something else a different distance away, comes into sharp focus. Where necessary, this activity is carried out by a Focus Puller. 
2) (Acting) To behave in such a way that the audiences' attention is pulled away from another performer. 

PULPITUM
Feature in an early Greek/Roman theatre. Pulpitum is the Latin (Roman) word for a raised stage in front of the sceanea (in Greek theatres it is called the Logeion) and equates with the modern 'podium' or platform stage. 

PUNCH IN
A facility on multitrack recorders which allows you to 'drop in' a sound onto a track whilst playing through the tape, sometimes controlled by a footswitch. Useful for correcting mistakes in an already recorded tape.

PUNT PAGE
A lighting desk setup for a visiting designer/operator to quickly 'busk' the lighting as required for a band / event, without any preparation time. The punt page may contain colour washes, effects etc as appropriate to the venue, event and stage type, ready for the visiting LD to use.
See also MAGIC SHEET.

PUPPET
A puppet is an object, often resembling a human, animal or mythical figure, that is animated or manipulated by a person called a puppeteer. There are various types of puppets:
Finger Puppet - Miniature puppet which fits onto a single finger. 
Hand Puppet or Glove Puppet - Worn on the hand of the puppeteer. Fingers are used to operate the head and sometimes the hands (depending on the size of the puppet)
Sock Puppet - Made from either a real sock or from a tube of fabric designed in teh same shape. The hand is used to form the mouth of the puppet. 
Rod Puppet - Operated from below by a rod or rods connected to the figure. Some hand puppets have rod-operated limbs. 
Shadow Puppet - A 2 dimensional cutout figure using rods to manipulate jointed limbs, and a single rod to support the puppet. Used behind a shadow screen with a light source to create shadows, which is all that the audience see. 
Marionette (or String Puppet) - A jointed figure using multiple strings connected to a control bar held above the puppet. The control bar can be manipulated to make it appear the puppet is walking, or dancing, and with practice, and a suitably complex control bar, can achieve a high degree of dexterity. 
Ventriloquist Dummy - A larger human or animal shaped puppet which is held by the puppeteer by one hand while their other hand operates the mechanism, often a single rod to move the head, with an additional lever to operate the mouth, and others to move eyes and eyelids. The puppeteer provides the voice, usually by throwing their voice so it appears the puppet is talking independently (so the puppeteers' mouth doesn't visibly move).

PUSH AND PULL
Actors who have to move scenery / furniture around the stage, earning them extra money. Slang term is Pickfords, after the UK Furniture removals company.

PUSH BROOM
Wide broom used for sweeping stages. The name explains the mode of operation - it's designed to be pushed away from you in a series of short motions. 

PUWER
Abbreviation for Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (UK Health & Safety Executive)
HSE PUWER page

PVC TAPE
Plastic insulating tape used for taping cables to bars and for securing coiled cables. Neater and cheaper than Gaffa tape. Also known as LX tape.

PYRO
1) See PYROTECHNICS
2) Short for Pyrotenax, a brand name (UK) of Mineral Insulated Cable.

PYROFLASH
A range of pyrotechnic cartridges, fliring pods and controllers used to create pyrotechnic effects in semi-professional situations, made by Le Maitre.

PYROTECHNICS
(often shortened to just 'Pyro') Chemical explosive or flammable firework effects with a manual detonation. Usually electrically fired with special designed fail-safe equipment.
There are many different variations of pyrotechnic effects available. The categories are as follows:
Theatrical Flash - a flash and a cloud of smoke
Maroon: produces a very loud bang. Must only be detonated inside a bomb tank covered with a protective mesh.
Gerb: version of the Roman Candle firework, throwing a shower of sparks into the air. Possibly named from the French 'Gerbe' meaning a sheaf of wheat, due to it's shape.
All pyrotechnics should be used with close reference to local licensing laws, and the manufacturers instructions. Professional advice should be sought before the first use of effects.
Some territories only permit licenced pyrotechnicians to use these devices.
The word originates from the Greek for fire, pyr. 

PZM
Pressure Zone Microphone. See BOUNDARY MICROPHONE.