1
Crossword Puzzle:
Technical Theatre Terms
8 9
11
12
13
14
15
16
Across
4. The command given to technical
departments to carry out a
particular operation.
7. The international term for lighting
equipment.
8. The electrical power rating,
in Watts, of the equipment
connected to a particular lighting
dimmer.
11. The act of modifying furniture or
props by shortening the upstage
legs etc. so that they can stand
level on a raked stage.
12. The advertised start time of the
performance.
15. Light coming from upstage,
behind scenery or actors, to
sculpt and separate them from the
background.
16. Method of flying scenery which
Provided compliments of PIONEER DRAMA SERVICE, INC. (www.pioneerdrama.com) Please feel free to reproduce for use in your classroom.
6 7
10
uses a cradle containing weights
to counterbalance the weight of
flown scenery.
Down
1. Latin for “god out of the machine.”
A plot device whereby a
seemingly inextricable problem is
suddenly solved. As a technical
term, this refers to an actor being
lowered from the flies, as if he
were a god.
2. Moving scenery and other
equipment more than necessary
because it wasn’t properly sorted
or positioned in the first place.
3. Accidentally unlit portion of the
stage.
5. Table in convenient offstage area
on which properties are prepared
prior to a performance and to
which they should be returned
after use.
6. The use of color filters to denote
the different color temperatures of
different light sources.
9. A small wooden box with a heavy
door and various bolts and locks
used to simulate slamming and
other door sound effects offstage.
10. Member of production staff who
is responsible for the props and
furniture that are required on the
set.
13. Term for speakers additional to
the main PA to improve the sound
in particular locations (e.g. ‘Front
fills’ add sound at the front of the
auditorium which might be just out
of range of the main PA stacks at
the sides of the stage).
14. (slang) Small but still useful off-
cuts of cloth or wood.
 Crossword Puzzle:
1
D
Technical Theatre Terms E
U
Answer Key
S

2
D E
3
B O X
4
L C U E
5
A B M P
6 7
C C L U M I N A I R E
8 9
K L O A D E C O
10
L O S H P
H O O H E I S
11
C O U N T E R R A K E A T N
L N A T
E C S D D A
O L L R B
12
C U R T A I N T I M E L
13
F R M N S E
I E G S
14
T L C E
15
B A C K L I G H T R
T S I
O
16
C O U N T E R W E I G H T S Y S T E M

Across uses a cradle containing weights to use.

4. CUE—The command given to
technical departments to carry out a
particular operation.
7. LUMINAIRE—The international term
for lighting equipment.
8. LOAD—The electrical power rating, in
Watts, of the equipment connected to
a particular lighting dimmer.
11. COUNTER RAKE—The act of
modifying furniture or props by
shortening the upstage legs etc. so
that they can stand level on a raked
stage.
12. CURTAIN TIME—The advertised start
time of the performance.
15. BACKLIGHT—Light coming from
upstage, behind scenery or actors,
to sculpt and separate them from the
background.
16. COUNTERWEIGHT SYSTEM—
Method of flying scenery which
counterbalance the weight of flown
scenery.
Down
1. DEUS EX MACHINA—Latin for “god
out of the machine.” A plot device
whereby a seemingly inextricable
problem is suddenly solved. As a
technical term, this refers to an actor
being lowered from the flies, as if he
were a god.
2. DOUBLE HANDLING—Moving
scenery and other equipment more
than necessary because it wasn’t
properly sorted or positioned in the
first place.
3. BLACK HOLE—Accidentally unlit
portion of the stage.
5. PROPS TABLE—Table in convenient
offstage area on which properties are
prepared prior to a performance and
to which they should be returned after
6. COLOR CORRECTION—The use
of color filters to denote the different
color temperatures of different light
sources.
9. DOOR SLAM—A small wooden box
with a heavy door and various bolts
and locks used to simulate slamming
and other door sound effects offstage.
10. SET DRESSER—Member of
production staff who is responsible
for the props and furniture that are
required on the set.
13. FILLS—Term for speakers additional
to the main PA to improve the sound
in particular locations (e.g. ‘Front
fills’ add sound at the front of the
auditorium which might be just out of
range of the main PA stacks at the
sides of the stage).
14. TAT—(slang) Small but still useful
offcuts of cloth or wood.

Provided compliments of PIONEER DRAMA SERVICE, INC. (www.pioneerdrama.com) Please feel free to reproduce for use in your classroom.