Dropping a cloth

[Theatre Nemo]

Hi.

 

I'm looking for some suggestions of how to rig a cloth to drop quickly off a scaf bar. It is for a Taiko Drumming performance in a Prison, The first part of the set will be back lit onto the cloth, casting the shadows of the performers, we then want to drop the cloth.

 

Size will be 4m x 4m

 

I have very limited experience in rigging so simple answers would be appreciated : )

 

Thanks

 

Hugh

[smalljoshua]

The key word for the search here is Kabuki Drop. It's doable in a few ways, from some string and no moving parts to solenoids controlled remotely.

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=kabuki+drop+site%3Ablue-room.org.uk returns some posts from this site.

 

Josh

[AfroAlex]

Hi

 

I had to drop two drapes, 2mx5m, used a simple lock with a piece of cord attached. I used cord in the drape eyelets and joined to one single piece of cord. The lock was mounted to a block of wood and the cord tucked inside.

 

Simply pull the cord, lock opens and drape falls. I dunno if it would work for a bigger cloth but did the job for me as ours weren't heavy backdrops/drapes just simple calico on a amatuer level.

 

Alex.

[boatman]

Being stuck in the house with a dose of Shingles following a Chicken-Pox outbreak on the island, I thought I would use the time to update my website with my latest completed project (note the emphasis on completed). This was built in a day at very short notice for a show last month. The new page is here.

 

Enjoy.

[dbuckley]

Ah yes, the joys of home made Kabuki drop devices

 

Mines not perhaps as pretty as yours, but yank on that string loaded rope, and down she comes.

 

http://davidbuckley.name/pix/diy_kabuki.jpg