ADC Stock

The ADC has a large collection of items in stock - so much in fact that it's often easy to forget they're there. This page seeks to assemble together all the various things that a Set Designer / TD may want to use in a set. Please keep this page updated with any new items and accurate locations.

Structural

Metrodeck and Treads

Metrodeck is a wonderful thing. It is the easiest way to make levels in your set and it is very modular. There are some 2x1m pieces, and 2 1x1m square pieces floating around the theatre, usually kept in the corner of the Stage Left wing. You can have any height from 1 to 8ft. Beware of making your set too high (or far back) as people's heads are likely to be cut off from view, or too low that walking under becomes a hazard. The scaff deck legs are all kept around the workshop, either at the bottom of the CW’s ladder, or under the sheet-wood rack. You simply lie the piece of deck flat upside down, insert the legs into the corners, tighten up the bolts, and flip! Sometimes the bolts are rubbish and don’t work, so just be careful with any loose legs when flipping. To connect deck, you'll need to bolt the platforms together using bolts from the bolt trolley, and connect the legs using ‘band and plates’, found at the bottom of CW ladder in the workshop. These slot around 2 decklegs next to each other, and then tighten using the pointy end of a podger. It's essential to add bracing (diagonal pieces of scaff) to avoid the set from wobbling. If people need to walk under it, cover any head bangable bits with pipe lagging (from sundries). The deck will also need to be electrically earthed. This means using an earth bond (found at the end of OP Quad) - this attaches to any leg, and then plugs in to any 15A socket (the dip traps in the stage are usually the most accessible), using an extension if needed. If above 3ft, your deck will need some form of handrail. You can build your own if wanted, but there is stock handrail also found in the workshop which can be easily bolted on to the deck. You’ll also need some treads (also known as steps), which are stored in the yard. 1-3ft are solid units, whereas taller treads need to be assembled. Again, the stock handrail can be attached to these. All the bolts needed for metrodeck and treads are found in the bolt trolley, and you’ll need podgers or quad spanners. Metrodeck and tread assembly is an easy thing to delegate to cast. If you're assembling a lot, there is a drill attachment to tighten bolts that is stored in the tech office.

Scaff

Scaffolding can be used for various other things as well as part of sets. LD’s can also use them for rigging side-booms. The main thing to remember is that any suspended scaff (either flown or as part of a side boom) needs 2 points of contact to what it's fixing to, which often means a short diagonal brace. Assorted scaff tubes (barrels) including stage width barrels live next to the counterweights ladder in their own holder. These replace sandbags on hemps and are used to attach a cloth to hemps. Be careful though as you won’t want the very longest ones as they don’t quite fit when flown all the way to grid.

Cloths

The ADC has many cloths, some of which are rarely known about, such as the silvered cloths, white legs to make a white box set, some gauze and a canvas that can be repainted. A full list can be found here.

Stock Flats

Stock flats have fallen out of use recently but can help easily create a large set on a budget. A full list can be found here. Even if making your own flats, stock flat brackets also exist which can avoid the need for flying flats.

Technical and special effects

Many effects exist that are bought for a show but that could easily be reused again. This list is likely to change a lot - please add to it with your own stuff if it ends up being kept.

Personnel Flying kit

Used to suspend an actor in midair - more information can be found on the page Personnel Flying.

Revolve

Massive revolve - does what it says on the tin. Is an immense faff to use as it needs to be assembled on the get in, but makes a set incredibly cool. Built by Jack Swanborough, it lives in the museum waiting for the next poor soul to use it. More documents about it can be found on the CUADC public drive.

Sliding door mechanism

Simple rail system that can be installed inside a flat to create an inset sliding door. Bought for Astrid by Lucas Holt, can be found in the museum.

Pyrotechnics controller

The Theatre owns a LeMaitre Pyroflash 6 channel pyrotechnic controller which can used to detonate Pyroflash charges. Runs off 2x 9V batteries. There are two fixed cable runs for pyro which go over the proscenium arch which can be connected to the controller. Make sure you advise Management well in advance if your show wants to use pyrotechnics.

Kabuki

Attaches to a counterweight (or hemp bar) and is used to release an object from above, controlled from the SM desk. For more information speak to the Technical manager.

Water pump

Bought for the singing in the rain set (the rain part) for much moneys - lives in CUADC cupboard.

Various motors

Used for revolving set or driving a wheel - lives in CUADC cupboard.