A perfect lawn

John Grim | 10/11/2009 - 16:47

Hi guys,

seeking the experts advice once again. How can one create a lawn effect on stage, without spending squillions on artificial turf? Note: Said garden scene is placed directly after the interval so there's set up time available (20 minutes), however on the other side of the scene, there's only a few minutes to clear props etc, including: garden bench, fake plants etc... the stage is jarrah stained floorboards. Can it be done? Lighting? Second question. I like the idea of using free standing lattice as screens, does anyone know where this can be hireed . purchased cheaply, or would it be better to paint a mobile flat?

cheers

Johnny Grim

previous forum topic | next forum topic | email this forum topic | 947 reads

Ergh, this brings back

Author: Na
Date: 10/11/2009 - 17:13

Ergh, this brings back memories of my high school exam production... We used lattice framing nailed to flats, all of which was painted white. It's quite possible they were flats with triangular braces and screwed into the floor of the venue: we had the space for two weeks. You can probably find lattice at Bunnings?

As for the lawn, the simplest thing I can think of is a lino (or whatever fabric is used for backdrops) roll which you can lay out on the stage floor. Paint with green and then do different hues with a sponging effect. ... But I'm sure there are better and more high-tech things others will suggest.

Puppets and patterns at
Puppets in Melbourne

what about

Author: mike raine
Date: 10/11/2009 - 19:05

something like . . . maybe indoor bowls mats? just a thought . . . I don't know what size or colour they are, but I imagine vaguely grasslike

I was right Puppets and

Author: Na
Date: 10/11/2009 - 22:10

I was right Eye-wink

Puppets and patterns at
Puppets in Melbourne

Melville recently purchased

Author: jeffhansen
Date: 10/11/2009 - 19:06

Melville recently purchased artificial turf for First Sunday In December. Was about $300 to cover three quarters of our stage. I think it's still at the theatre if you want to borrow it. I don't think it'll cover the complete Phoenix stage, but we can tell you where we got it from, and you can match it.

www.meltheco.org.au

John, the bowling club

Author: Tim Prosser
Date: 10/11/2009 - 21:24

John, the bowling club next door to the Old Mill is currently replacing its artificial turf. I was down there on Sunday to view the set I'm going to paint for Hywel and saw huge rolls of the old turf lying around the perimeter of the greens. Hywel has already laid claim to enough of this surplus material for his own set, so I should think a telephone call to the bowling club as soon as you can (tomorrow morning...Thursday) might well be worth your while...IF it hasn't already been removed and dumped. A pity I didn't know about your need for it sooner!

I'll be down there tomorrow, but late in the afternoon. Give me a call as soon as you get home from tonight's rehearsal (and see this, obviously!)

Per Ardua Ad Astra

11/11/2009 - 12:59 Daniel M Sweet blend dude...

Now that is in the public

Author: noway
Date: 11/11/2009 - 15:07

Now that is in the public domain it cannot be patented...well done numb nut!

Of course you may have been trying to be funny, if you were, I guess that was lost on me. Keep trying though, your cliched references and pointless witticisms may get through to someone, Troll-King!

11/11/2009 - 16:43 Daniel M Formula. Where?

11/11/2009 - 16:45 Daniel M Here it is...

Every now & then the

Author: JoeMc
Date: 12/11/2009 - 08:56

Every now & then the suggestion of using real lawn on the stage deck, is mooted in ameatre. Without realisation of the need for lawn to tended during the productions season. By watering mowing & all the other regular maintence need for it to survive.

Astro turf or other artificial lawn is far better, which is in line with the theatre supperstion, of not using real flowers & plants on stage. Unless of course they are half inched from a graveyard.

If you can get somme lawn bowls matting as suggested, go for it Jonny! I have seen ordinary plain carpet dyed or pianted as a green sward, which is effedctive.

You could also try...

Author: Rapunzel
Date: 12/11/2009 - 14:09

You could also try...shag pile rugs dyed green, perhaps cut up a bit to make the pile uneven and then touched up with paint? I saw this done once successfully with a number of rugs, the edges were cut about too so they weren't symmetrical. Or if you wanted a slightly surreal effect use three perfectly placed round ones, all uniformly dyed a very unreal green.

I hope you get the to bowls club, as suggested above, in time!

PS: Is this for the sheep??

"Life is too short to stuff a mushroom"

12/11/2009 - 14:28 Daniel M The third time?

Al lthings green

Author: John Grim
Date: 12/11/2009 - 17:39

Thanks to all for the advice. Indeed we have got lucky in that the South Perth bowling club have still got green carpet to give away. All I've got to do now is work out how I can carry 37 metres of green carpet home on my bike?

PS: This might be a good chance for other theatre groups to snaffle said lawn for nixt. It will come in handy one day.

cheers

Johnny Grim

John, you never went to all

Author: Daniel Kershaw
Date: 15/11/2009 - 09:57

John, you never went to all this trouble when I was in the play. Both times.

*shakes fist*

Looking forward to seeing it.

Daniel M

Author: Daniel Kershaw
Date: 15/11/2009 - 09:59

Say no to drugs.

16/11/2009 - 17:44 Daniel M Absolutely.

User login

A perfect lawn

Comment viewing options