Theatre Design & Technology - Summer 1986 - 50

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RECOMMENDED
GUIDELINES
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BRIDGE A movable steel structure suspended over stage or

audience area usually used for suspending lighting
instruments.
CAPTURED STAGE EQUIPMENT Machinery, such as electro-

mechanically or hydraulically driven wagons or turntables, that are part of the structure of the building or
are contained in a temporary stage floor.
CATCHING DEVICE A protective shield that prevents the

system operator from injury should a counterweight
become dislodged and fall from the counterweight
carriage.
CATWALK A steel structure over the stage and/or the audi-

ence area used by stage personnel to cross from one
side to the other.
CONTROLLED STOP A timed deceleration of a moving device.
COUNTERWEIGHTS A system of variable weights used to

counterbalance loads placed on battens that are
moved vertically.
COUNTERWEIGHT CARRIAGE A metal frame that holds the

counterweights used to balance the weight of flown
scenery. Also referred to as the arbor, cradle, or
carriage.
DEAD HUNG Battens or similar equipment that is perma-

nently supported from the grid and cannot be easily
lowered to the stage floor.
DEFLECTING DEVICE Same as CATCHING DEVICE.
DRIVE DAMAGE Any event that would impair, alter, or dimin-

ish the safe operation of the unit which contains the
item.
EXPERT A person having extensive training and knowledge

in the field of stage rigging and stage machinery.
FIRE CURTAIN A non-flammable curtain immediately behind

the proscenium, contained in the smoke pocket, used
to protect the audience from possible smoke and fire
originating from the stage area.

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GRID

HARD CONTACT A sudden or uncontrolled stop of the coun

terweight carriage caused by hitting the upper
lower limits of the system.

the counterweight carriage or winch with the principa
function of changing the direction of travel of the lift
ing lines from vertical to horizontal.

HEMP SYSTEM A system of hemp (now manila fiber) rope~

used to support or raise and lower scenery.
HOUSE See Auditorium.

LOADING GALLERY A platform attached to the side walls 01

the stage house used for the loading or unloading 01
the counterweight carriages.

LOFT BLOCK The pulleys or sheaves directly above the

batten used to change the direction of the working
lines from horizontal to vertical.

MOTORIZED RIGGING A system of electric or hydraulic

motors used to raise and lower battens or counter·
weight carriages.

ORCHESTRA LIFT An elevator in the orchestra pit used to

raise and lower the floor of the pit.

PIN RAIL A part of the hemp system consisting of a metal

pipe or wooden rail attached to the fly gallery and
fitted with removable steel or wooden pins used in the
tying off of the working lines.
PIT

To move scenery or simi lar devices vertically on the
stage.

FLY GALLERY A platform attached to the side wall of the

stage house used to operate the rigging devices.

A recessed area in front of the stage used principally
by musicians. Can also be covered and used as an
extended forestage.

PROPER TRAINING Training from a reputable school, col-

lege, univrsity or fATSE Local having a formalized apprentice program.

PROSCENIUM The wall between the stage and the audience

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containing the proscenium arch.
RIGGING The general term describing systems used to raise

and lower or move the stage equipment.

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SET

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A unit of rigging consisting of the batten and all other
support cables, sheaves, and mountings.

FLY LOFT The space above the grid and below the roof.

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Theatre l)esil(11 '" Teehn()I()l(~ USITT Sutlltllcr 1986

HEAD BLOCK The first sheave or pulley that is directly abovE

A steel framework above the stage area used to sup
port the rigging system. Short for grid iron.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Summer 1986