I've been looking on the web for sets to hire for our forthcoming production of Cabaret, with a surprising lack of success. Any ideas anyone?

Its very often done with hardly any set in a 'club' style. WE used scaffolding to put our orchestra up on, and just added tables and chairs for the club, a desk for cliffs room, and that was about it. We also used a Gobo for the club as well. Photos are here

Its a fantastic show to do. i had a blast

love
pamela

Great Pictures, with some good costume ideas. Where does one buy suspenders in bulk, I wonder?

We were trying to hire the set to cut down a bit on the work, but I didn't find it on any of the websites I looked at. The scaffolding idea is a good one, except our theatre will probably have it so tied up in health and safety rules we'd probably only be allowed on it in hard hats and goggles. Now there's a fetish that may not have been covered before - Kit Kat girls in donkey jackets!

Works for me

try "border studios"
they list it

I've called them. They don;t hae a full set, but "some bits that might be useful!" I'll wait and see what they send, but meanwhile am still open to offers!

If you go to the Links section of the NODA website here they list several set people. Scenic and Property Hire list it.

Using a raised set doesn't present any real H&S problems (or shouldn't) provided you go the right way

If your using scaffolding it must be designed and erected by a proffesional scaffolding company. They can provide the relevent load cases your H&S office might require.

You can also use theatrical rostra on high legs - however it must be an approved system. ie you can't just stand rostra on scaffold legs (unless you have calcs from a structrual engineer) Hire companies like Steeldeck and Litestructures both have approved legs for their decks. I've constructed a lot of high and multi tier stages with no problems, see your local H&S office to discuss their requirements

Steeldeck works well and can work unbraced up to 1m beyond that you need cross-bracing and should be looked over by a structural engineer (mainly for insurance purposes). I have created set for both West Side Story and Jesus Christ Superstar from a Scaffolding/Steeldeck basis. The best thing about it is that a Scaffolding set DOES NOT MOVE, even when the cast run at it and climb over it.

Photos:
http://shows.rickmansworth-players.org.uk/WSS
http://shows.rickmansworth-players.org.uk/JCSS

Dave

Slight deviation but here is a 'donut' raked stage showing what can be done with good old wood.

The original plan was scaffolding but this worked alot better.

Pictures Here (First Six)

Thanks everyone for your help - I now find that the show is not being licenced at the moment, so I need look no further for a set. Anyone know any good shows?

The new Working at height regulations (came into force April 6 2005) HSE Working at height regulations now changes what you can do. Technically putting some scaffold legs into steel deck does not constitute an "approved system" unless Steeldeck themselves have approved it. In reality Scaf legs are much better than the steeldeck system - but that's the rule!

One thing to remember is to declare exactly who is going on it - I once had a client forget (until the last minute) that the whole cast of children would be packed on it. Fortunatly we were load rated at 750kg per sq meter (steel deck is still 500) but it did cause a concern and we put extra load spreaders on as belt and braces.

It all depends on when you need the set for cabaret by!

Scenic Projects LTD have just taken over Stagesets of London and they are updating their stock - Stagesets of london have got Cabaret listed!!

The only thing is; is that Scenic Projects don't take over until the end of the month and then Scenic Projects are planning on refurbishing the sets

I expect the sets will be avialbe to hire from September maybe?

Hope this helps!

If you do decide to do it (I recommend you do!), when it becomes available, and you are using a smallish stage, try "SceneChange" of Hyde, Cheshire. We did the show in 2003 and Gary, the owner, designed and built it for us.

Contact tel: 07970530030

Tel him Andy from HMS sent you.

Thanks everyone - we're doing Honk! now, which is something of a contrast! Still want to know what I can mould human sized eggs out of!

That's easy. Just put normal eggs on stage and tell the Director that (s)he can only cast very small people!

Dave

Now why didn't I think of that!