Difference between revisions of "Stage Manager"
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
The activity is known as '''[[stage management]]''' ("[[verhoogbestuur]]" in [[Afrikaans]]) . | The activity is known as '''[[stage management]]''' ("[[verhoogbestuur]]" in [[Afrikaans]]) . | ||
| + | |||
| + | == History == | ||
| + | |||
| + | While the activity of "managing activities on the stage" has itself has been a part of the theatre since its very origins, the term "stage manager" only came into in 18th century in England. This seems top have come about because companies now increasingly hired someone other than actors and a playwright to direct or manage the stage set-up and activities. As theatre practice increased in complexity, the stage manager's responsibilities were eventually split into two more clearly defined positions, namely that of a [[director]] of actors and the overall presentation of a play (a creative responsibility greatly affected by the emergence of new ideas about the nature of performance, generated by such movements as the Meiningen school in Germany and most notably by the Stanislavsky) and that of a technical [[stage manager]] (in the light of the many new technologies introduced into venues and performances). | ||
The term sometimes occurs in 19th century bills and programmes with what appears to be a different and wider meaning, possibly also encompassing some more creative responsibilities, such as those we today assume to belong to the [[director]] of a play. For example the Shakespearean actor/manager [[Thomas Brazier]] is referred to as the "Stage Manager" for productions of Shakespeare plays by the [[Le Roy and Duret]] company in late 1868, and in this case [[F.C.L. Bosman]] (1980, p. 236) suggests that their success could probably be ascribed to the competence of Brazier's "stage management". | The term sometimes occurs in 19th century bills and programmes with what appears to be a different and wider meaning, possibly also encompassing some more creative responsibilities, such as those we today assume to belong to the [[director]] of a play. For example the Shakespearean actor/manager [[Thomas Brazier]] is referred to as the "Stage Manager" for productions of Shakespeare plays by the [[Le Roy and Duret]] company in late 1868, and in this case [[F.C.L. Bosman]] (1980, p. 236) suggests that their success could probably be ascribed to the competence of Brazier's "stage management". | ||
Revision as of 06:13, 12 November 2021
A stage manager (Afrikaans: formerly toneelmeester, later referred to as a verhoogbestuurder) is the person literally responsible for co-ordinating and managing all the activities (i.e. sets, lighting, sound, props, communication between departments, performers, management, etc.) that take place on and behind the stage during rehearsals and the production. In this sense s/he supports the director, actors, designers, stage crew and technicians, making sure that the production runs smoothly, and may often s/he act as the director's representative during performances, especially on tour.
The activity is known as stage management ("verhoogbestuur" in Afrikaans) .
History
While the activity of "managing activities on the stage" has itself has been a part of the theatre since its very origins, the term "stage manager" only came into in 18th century in England. This seems top have come about because companies now increasingly hired someone other than actors and a playwright to direct or manage the stage set-up and activities. As theatre practice increased in complexity, the stage manager's responsibilities were eventually split into two more clearly defined positions, namely that of a director of actors and the overall presentation of a play (a creative responsibility greatly affected by the emergence of new ideas about the nature of performance, generated by such movements as the Meiningen school in Germany and most notably by the Stanislavsky) and that of a technical stage manager (in the light of the many new technologies introduced into venues and performances).
The term sometimes occurs in 19th century bills and programmes with what appears to be a different and wider meaning, possibly also encompassing some more creative responsibilities, such as those we today assume to belong to the director of a play. For example the Shakespearean actor/manager Thomas Brazier is referred to as the "Stage Manager" for productions of Shakespeare plays by the Le Roy and Duret company in late 1868, and in this case F.C.L. Bosman (1980, p. 236) suggests that their success could probably be ascribed to the competence of Brazier's "stage management".
Sources
http://www.aact.org/stage-manager
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stage_management
Go to ESAT Bibliography
Return to
Return to The South African Context/General Terminology and Thematic Entries
Return to South African Theatre/Terminology and Thematic Entries
Return to South African Film /Terminology and Thematic Entries
Return to South African Media/Terminology and Thematic Entries
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
