Safety at the Royal South Street Competitions
Coping with the Sloping: Making Props and Dance Safer during the Ballarat Competitions
Risk Assessment Forms
Examples of how to make props safe and secure
Dancing Dangers
Competition Advice
Generally, your props and your competition performances, work quite well on the normal level stage of most theatres. However the stage at Ballarat’s Her Majesty’s Theatre slopes down hill by 29mm per meter of length. Despite advice in our general rules, most competition props arrive here with no modifications to cope with the slope. They are thus seen as unstable, and have been difficult to sandbag securely.
Please note the following suggestions for stabilizing your props. Act on it now, not when you get to the competition. From 2009 on, Theatre Technicians can ban your prop or performance if they deem it unsafe. Please avoid this happening by being prepared as you don’t want this to happen just as you prepare to go on stage!
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Risk Assessment Forms
*As of 2009 it is a Her Majesty's Theatre requirement that any performance on stage that has the following: ladders, bikes, scooters, throwing or performing in front of the curtain, requires a special permission to be granted prior to the performance. In order to recieve this permission a RISK ASSESSMENT form must be completed and handed in to the South Street Office a day or more prior to the performance. Possible discussion/preview with a Her Majesty's Theatre Techecnician may be requested prior to the performance. Click here to download a Risk Assessment form.
Forms are essential for the following items:
- 8. Ladders,
- 9. Bikes and Scooters,
- 11. Throwing,
- 12. Performing in front of the curtain.
Below are some examples of how to fill in this form:
Ladder on stage
Bikes or Scooters
Performing in front of the curtain
If you have any queries regarding these forms please contact the South Street office well in advance of your performance.
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Examples of how to make props safe and secure
1. TILT BACK.
All Flat props, measured when sitting on a level floor, should tilt at 18cm (or more) back from vertical measured at 1 metre up from the floor (or 9cm at ½ metre up etc). If a brace (stay) is used to hold the prop, the brace should contact the floor about 50cm (or more) back from the prop face, per metre of prop height (depending on other props and choreography). This will provide adequate tilt for use on the sloping stage.
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2. The BRACE
The brace must be firmly attached to the prop panel/frame with a strong strap or back-flap hinge or similar (but not a standard butt hinge), such that the brace cannot collapse sideways. A Velcro strap should hold the brace flat and safe from twisting during transport. This brace must be sandbag able, as show to the right. Here are just some options:
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3. LITTLE FLAT props
Little flat props up to 30cm high, may only need 1or 2 angle brackets (12 x12 cm) bent to achieve the correct angle, or a solid wood base. Either arrangement must be accessible for a sandbag.
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4. NORMAL FLAT props
(a) Cord.
Props up to a metre or so high, usually have a brace at the back, held at the bottom by a cord.
Cord strung part way up the brace is Unsuitable! (Unless modified as in b, c, or d)
Cord or a strong tape should run from (or very near to) the bottom of the brace to the bottom of the prop face. This allows a sandbag to hold it down properly.
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(b) A Cross piece
A cross piece about 20 - 30cm long, very firmly attached (screwed, glued, braced) to the lower end of the brace as a “T” , which can be held down by sandbags. A basic modification for all simple braces!** |
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(c) Larger Props: French Base
For bigger props or any flat prop at all, it is much safer to use a French Brace. This is a rigid triangular timber brace, attached to the back of the prop frame with top and bottom hinges. The brace can be folded flat for storage. Removable hinge pins ok for storage and transport. The horizontal member should extend 10cm beyond the brace to take a sandbag. Highly recommended. Gives excellent stability!**
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(d) Large/wide panels and props
For large / wide panel props, make the brace a suitably sized rectangle, cross-braced, with the bottom horizontal member clear to take sandbags. Alternatively use 2 French Braces as above |
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(e) Variable angle stays.
The brace is attached to the bottom of the prop back by a hinged rigid strut. The top of the brace can be moved up or down. Right up for transport, down to various positions to suit a level stage or a sloped stage. This is an excellent brace, but the top of the movable brace must be firmly attached to the prop eg) with a quick action catch, pin, bolt etc, such that it cannot come apart if knocked. Simply jamming the brace in a notch is not allowed.
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5. Three-Dimensional Props
Three dimensional boxes props include: drums, stands, pianos, fireplaces, houses, tree trunks, furniture, etc. These may be impossible to tilt back, but if so, only 3cm per metre in height. Just make sure they are stable on stage.
(a) Boxes.
Width should be 1.25 times the height if they are to be danced upon. Preferably to have a floor in them, and an 18cm diameter access hole in the lower back, through which sandbags can be placed inside the box.
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(b) Pianos
Should have a floor in them and 2 or 3 access holes (18cm diam.) along the bottom back of the prop, where sandbags can be inserted. If the piano is to be sat on, jumped from etc, consider attaching a length of timber to the bottom of the ends to give it more stability depth wise.
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(c) Columns, Tree trunks, Hat stands.
Fix firmly to a base that is at least 12cm wider than the column in every direction, so that sandbags can be placed all round. Or, it must have a floor and
access hole in the back through which sandbags can be inserted. If Tilt Back is possible, only 3cm per metre height.
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(d) Houses, Igloos, Fireplaces etc.
Have a horizontal part of the frame at the back, available to take sandbags if necessary.
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6. LEGS
Spindly table legs, narrow coffee tables, bassinet legs etc, If there is much activity with these props, consider attaching a horizontal piece of wood between the bottom of 2 legs, to take a sandbag.
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7. MOVABLE props.
This includes prams, ships, cars, animals, etc.
(a) Always Hand Held.
If the prop is constantly held/controlled by the performer, or taken side stage when not in use, then straight wheels are ok, but not swivel-in-all-directions furniture castors!
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(b) Only held while shifting.
If the prop is moved by the performer to various positions then left unattended, do NOT use wheels. Push it around on little carpet pads stuck to the prop. If you really need wheels, life gets complicated. You must have a brake system, or lockable castors, or a portable
sandbag, all of which have to be operated by the performer during performance! Prams could operate with normal rear wheels, but have the front wheels locked to the chassis and fitted with carpet pads.
Wheel-barrows are ok.
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*8. LADDERS
Only Industrial step ladders can be used, and you can only go 2 steps up the ladder, 3 steps up if someone holds the ladder! Anything more than that needs Special Permission. RSSS will provide an Industrial A frame step ladder.
*9. BIKES
Bikes, scooters, skate boards, roller blades etc. Special Permission needed for use on sloping stage. Occ Health & Safety issues.
10. ROLLING things
Balls, sticks, canes, pencils, cylindrical props etc that might roll down stage when unattended. Consider a “blutak” pad, a weight stuck on, or suitable placement on stage.
*11. THROWING things
Balls, arrows, spears, axes, books etc. (nothing to do with slope, but) Special permission needed. OH&S issues.
*12. Performing IN FRONT of main CURTAIN,
This is basically banned unless Special Permission is obtained.
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These are just some of the ways to improve the use of props. I am sure you can think of other ways. Bottom line is that the stage props must be safe and stable, and then the whole performance will be safe.
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