LAMDA Technical & Production Arts 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the purpose of 'spiking' the stage floor?
- Securing cables to prevent trip hazards
- Marking the precise positions of set pieces and furniture (Correct answer)
- Testing the structural integrity of platforms
- Indicating emergency exit routes for actors
Correct answer: Marking the precise positions of set pieces and furniture
Spiking involves placing small tape marks on the stage floor to record the exact locations of set pieces so they can be accurately repositioned after scene changes.
Question 2: In theatre electrics, what is a 'dimmer' used for?
- To convert AC current to DC for LED fixtures
- To control the intensity of lighting instruments by varying voltage (Correct answer)
- To protect circuits from power surges
- To split a single circuit across multiple fixtures
Correct answer: To control the intensity of lighting instruments by varying voltage
A dimmer regulates the voltage supplied to a lighting instrument, allowing its brightness to be raised or lowered smoothly.
Question 3: Which rigging term describes the system of ropes, pulleys, and counterweights used to fly scenic elements?
- Grid
- Hemp house
- Counterweight fly system (Correct answer)
- Pin rail
Correct answer: Counterweight fly system
A counterweight fly system uses metal arbors loaded with iron weights to balance the load of scenery, allowing one or two people to fly heavy pieces.
Question 4: What does the term 'strike' mean at the end of a production run?
- A union work stoppage affecting the crew
- The final performance of the show
- The dismantling and removal of the set, props, and equipment (Correct answer)
- Lighting a cue during a technical rehearsal
Correct answer: The dismantling and removal of the set, props, and equipment
Strike is the process of dismantling and clearing all production elements — set, lighting, sound, and props — from the venue after a show closes.
Question 5: In costume design, what is a 'toile' (or 'muslin')?
- A type of luxurious performance fabric
- A trial garment made in inexpensive fabric to test a pattern (Correct answer)
- A French technique for dyeing fabric
- The final costume as worn in performance
Correct answer: A trial garment made in inexpensive fabric to test a pattern
A toile is a prototype garment sewn in cheap calico or muslin to test the fit and shape of a pattern before cutting the actual costume fabric.
Question 6: What is the main role of a 'production manager' in a theatrical production?
- Writing the production's script and stage directions
- Directing the actors during rehearsal
- Overseeing budget, scheduling, and coordination of all technical departments (Correct answer)
- Operating the lighting board during performances
Correct answer: Overseeing budget, scheduling, and coordination of all technical departments
A production manager is responsible for translating the director's creative vision into a viable production by managing budgets, schedules, and the technical departments.
Question 7: What property of a material is described by its 'flammability rating' in a scenic context?
- How quickly it absorbs paint and scenic dye
- Its resistance to igniting and sustaining combustion (Correct answer)
- Its structural load-bearing capacity
- Its acoustic sound-absorbing quality
Correct answer: Its resistance to igniting and sustaining combustion
A flammability rating describes how resistant a material is to catching fire and continuing to burn, which is critical for all scenic and costume materials used on stage.
LAMDA Technical & Production Arts 3
What is the purpose of 'spiking' the stage floor?