PROPS
CAREERS IN PROPS
DESIGNER
Responsible for the design and finish of all aspects & details of the set, furniture and props. Works very closely with the director, lighting designer, costume designer, sound designer and choreographer on the concept and style of the production.
DESIGN ASSISTANT
Employed by the designer to help with the construction of scale models, technical drawings and research.
HEAD OF PROPS
A position that requires a very wide range of skills both technically and managerially. An in depth knowledge of fabrication techniques in a range of materials. The ability to understand and interpret technical drawings & models. Excellent time management and budgetary skills. A detailed knowledge of periods and styles in everything from door handles , furniture & soft furnishings to guns & swords. It is essential to have good communication skills and have the ability to solve problems under pressure. This position demands that you can juggle many tasks at once.
DEPUTY HEAD/SENIOR PROP MAKER/WORKSHOP SUPERVISOR
Different companies call jobs by different names but essentially they fulfil similar roles. This role requires experience and skill. A very high level of making and technical knowledge combined with good organisation skills. They often have to deal with day to day logistical matters in the workshop
PROP MAKERS
All round excellent makers with a very high level of craft skills. Many makers have range of general expertise but then have a specialist skill such as upholstery & soft furnishings, furniture making or painting & finishing. They are experienced problem solvers with good communication skills.
ASSISTANT PROP MAKERS
Less experienced makers who may be learning the craft and developing their technical knowledge. They will often work on smaller projects or with a more experienced maker on a larger more challenging task.
PROPS BUYER
Working from the designers brief and within financial constraints set out by the Head of Props a buyer will source any props and furniture required for a production. An ability to find the impossible in unusual places and haggle for a good deal is essential.
HOW I GOT INTO PROPS…
Bronia, Senior Propmaker
After studying A Level Art and Theatre studies I wanted to continue both subjects so I looked into combining them in Theatre Design. I first did a BTEC National diploma in Foundation studies to enable me to apply for a BA (Hons) course in Theatre Design. I went to NottinghamTrentUniversity because of the wide range of skills the course covered. We had the opportunity to design, direct, and perform, as well as the technical side of lighting, costume making and Set and prop building. By the end of the course I found I most enjoyed and had an aptitude for the Set/prop making.
After the degree I designed a couple of small professional and amateur productions and then went to work in the USA at a theatre summer camp. Here I designed and built sets under enormous time and budget pressure, but had great fun and learnt to be resourceful and efficient in my work.
Once back in the UK I looked for set and prop making work by sending lots of CVs and telephoning contacts I had made. I was willing to do some work experience but luckily I found freelance work in London straight away. I found that it helped to have the experience of the summer camp on my CV as prospective employers had heard of it. I showed my portfolio to as many people as possible and evolved its content into a compilation of professional work and away from college projects as soon as I was able.
I have worked at Glyndebourne Productions for 6 consecutive seasons and progressed from Assistant Propmaker to Senior Propmaker in that time. During the freelance months away from Glyndebourne I have mainly assisted a Theatrical Milliner. This work compliments the prop work at Glyndebourne well. Working as a Propmaker is an interesting and exciting career. You need to be versatile and hardworking and willing to start at the bottom. You need to be aware that there is a lot of repetitive work as well as the one off exciting work.
Gemma,Propmaker
I had always been involved in Theatre from a performance point of view. Having an interest in art and design it seemed natural to combine both skills. At A level I took Art and Theatre Studies and then continued onto a Foundation course where I specialised in sculpture. I worked on large scale pieces that I often felt would be interesting as performance spaces.
This and my interest in live performance led me to look into Theatre design at Degree level. There are now a number of courses available but I really wanted to study where there was the possibility of collaborating with students on other performance courses like acting and dance. I found the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, which turned out to be exactly what I was looking for. Through the three years I spent there I was able to work on a variety of productions in many different venues. Everything we designed we also had to make, the set, costumes and props. Having to produce the huge variety of items for each show meant I was constantly acquiring different construction skills. I graduated three years ago and I felt I had only just begun to discover the amazing amount of skills and materials there were to learn and to work with. It was definitely this element of my degree that meant the most to me.
I began to send out CVs to a number of theatres and production companies. Towards the end of the first year of graduation I worked as a freelancer at the Eden project in Cornwall and on a few prop making and painting jobs for a production company in London. I continued sending out my CV and at the beginning of the following year I was brought in as an Assistant Propmaker for the season at Glyndebourne Productions. I have returned to work here for the following two seasons. During the freelance months of the year I have continued to work as a Propmaker in theatres both the North of England and London. In this work I have discovered that you will never stop learning new skills or finding new materials so the work is always fresh and exciting.