What type of Stage Flats?

What type of Flats do you use in your theatre?

{this is not about accommodation, digs, shoes, corsets or prosthetics!]

Are they the 'Soft'{ [Broadway] for want of a better name} flats, the hard [Hollywood / Studio/TV] Flats, 'scene Board' , Cardboard or what ever?

Personally I prefer the soft flats, which takes more effort to make, but it can be a loft of fun. especially as a stagecraft or workshop exercise.

There are a lot of bods who argue for the use of the hard TV flats & I can see some value in their reasoning!

Anyhow lets hear what you use, why or? Not that I would attempt to convert any to using cloth flats, but I prefer using unbleached Calico [the yanks call it Muslin or flax] in preference to canvas. Mainly because it's cheaper & lighter, also I find it easier to work with.

For a starter here is the named parts that traditionally make up the frame of a Flat;- http://www.tvradiofilmtheatre.org/Culley/PartsFlat.html

Of course once you make up a frame, it can be skinned with any material. From ply, MDF, Masonite, cardboard or 'Luan'. I have never met Luan, but the yanks seem to adore her. [A cheap wooden sheeting]. Or even just use the hard sheeting without making a frame.

I remember David got innovative when he was doing the shows for 'Effie Crump theatre', a few years ago. He made up steal tube frames, with ply sheeting, which was inter changeable. Because he applied Velcro strips to the frame & rear of the boards, to effect quick changes to the complete set. Also it made it easier to tour the basic framing & packs of different sheeting. Rather well done David & to me it worked effectively, for the logistics of that Company.

I use 42x19 timber to build a box frame and skin with 3mil Luan (sp?) ply. I can then bolt or clamp the flats together. I use this method because it is cheaper easier and gives you a light but strong flat that is easy to handle. I was taught in my youth to build the full Broadway flat and still remember boiling size to seal the material. The biggest problem with the full original Broadway flat was the cleat and line method of connecting them. Lacing them could take hours unless you had an expert around. They are heavier because they need to be built out of heavier timber in the flat style. If I need to build soft flats then I use Calico like you and seal the surface before painting with a mixture of PVA glue and water, usually about 1 glue to 4 water. Spray or brush on. It also shrinks the material giving you a tighter surface. When it is dry it gives you a surface to paint on that will not drink paint. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

Hard Flats

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