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Theatre Arts for Advanced Secondary Schools

Backdrop
This is a piece of cloth usually hung at the back of a theatre stage as part of the
scenery. It can either be painted or digitally created to serve as a setting for a
scene or event. Backdrop can be a simply painted scenery or highly detailed and
elaborative. Backdrop provides a background to the theme being presented. Below
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is an example of the backdrop. It can also be used to establish the atmosphere,
location or mood of a particular scene or event. Figure 6.10 shows a backdrop that
is used to support stage play performed for a specific community and purpose.

Figure 6. 10: Backdrop used to support stage play performance

Scenery

Scenery in theatre performances refers to visual elements such as objects, images,
furnishers, utensils, sets or any other materials that are used to create a specific
setting or environment on stage. It is the outcome of the combination of backdrops,
sets, props and artifacts. Scenery may be a single chair or recreation of a street. It
can as well be realistic or abstract, contemporary/modern or traditional reflecting
the past or old days. Figure 6.11 shows an example of a painting.

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