Page 18 - Year 10 Knowledge Organiser

Drama: 1 of 2

Theatre Roles and Responsibilities –
SECTION A WRITTEN EXAM

• Performer- A performer is an actor or entertainer who realises a role on
stage/plays a character in front of an audience.
• Understudy- An actor who studies another role so they can take over when
needed. They take the place of the performer when they are unable to perform.
• Lighting Designer- Responsible for designing the lights for a performance. They
have to create a lighting plot which is a list of the lighting states and their cues.
• Sound Designer- Responsible for designing sound for a performance. They will
create a list of sound effects/music for intros and outros and will create a sound
plot which is a list of the sounds required and their cues.
• Set Designer- Responsible for the design of the set for a performance. The set is
what you see on the stage. They work closely with the director and designers so
there is unity between all the designs and needs of the performance.
• Costume Designer- Responsible for designing the costumes for a performance.
The costume department of a theatre is often called the wardrobe.
• Puppet Designer- The person who designs the puppets for a performance.
• Technician- A person who works backstage either setting up technical equipment
such as microphones or rigging lights before a production or operating equipment
during a performance.
• Director - A director is in charge of the artist elements of a production. A director
will often have the initial creative idea (concept) for a production and will work with
the actors in rehearsal and will collaborate with designers and technical team to
realise this idea in performance.
• Stage Manager- The stage manager is in charge of all aspects of backstage. They
will oversee everything that happens backstage before, during and after a
performance.
• Theatre Manager- This is the person who is responsible for and manages the front
of house team. This team deals with the audience during the production and
includes the box office team and the ushers.