Use of organic materials on stage

[jonathanhill]

Hi All,

 

I am currently looking for direction regarding the use of organic materials, such as compost or mud, as a covering for stage floors. I would dearly like to curtail or even prohibit the use of such substances, and am really looking for persuasive arguments not to use.

 

Currently I have:

 

It covers everything in a fine layer of dirt that I will be cleaning up for months, including inside expensive control surfaces.

 

It seriously affects the throats of the acting company, even if measures such as wetting down, are employed.

 

Anyone got any good ones, or better still, legislative ones?

 

Cheers

 

Jonathan

[Robin D]

Legionella especially if damp and in a confined space. Good enough?

 

Edit.... Spelling!

[agermich]

We have used very large amounts of soil in a number of shows and have never had any serious problems. The biggest ones is the dust, that makes everything filthy, will keep appearing forever, and can damage equipment. Actors have generally been fine although we have worked with movement directors and physios to ensure that acting and movement work on the soft surface doesn't cause injury. Actually getting the soil in and out the building can be a bit of a manpower challenge!

 

Mike

[kerry davies]

Moving Being re-created the Somme in a shipyard with tippers full of mud and I have used sand several times so it is just a case of suitable RA's and clean-up procedures.

 

Please do not use H&S as a get-out and if it really is down to personal preference then be strong enough to say so. Saying no is one of the skills we all need to learn in this business.

[Robin D]

I agree mud and sand are controllable risks. I was particularly answering the bits about 'organic' and 'compost'. There is also a fungus that can grow in compost that if the spores are inhaled can make you very ill. In fact I think three or four years ago, someone died.

 

Just found it My link.

 

Robin

[the kid]

I had a show come that used soil, it was not a MASSIVE amount but they cooked it to sterilise it. That was fine, till some ended up in my coffee

 

Come to think of it I also did a show with a crazy amount of sand and they had to get kids play sand cause it was cleaned in some special way.

[kitlane]

I've done shows with soil, turf, peat, sand and water (not all at the same time) and no-one has died. I agree with Kerry that you shouldn't use H&S as an excuse to do something that just seems like too much work. In fact, I feel very strongly about it. It is that attitude that gives H&S a bad name. You are in danger of becoming a 'jobsworth'.

 

Do a proper, evidence based Risk Assessment. Remember that a risk assessment doesn't only have to consider H&S regulations. If you honestly believe there is a risk to equipment then that goes in as well. But, for example, where is your evidence that there is a hazard to the actors' throats?

 

If you have done the research to show why it is unsafe then you will find it a lot easier to stand your ground. In my experience when you try to bulls**t a director with an excuse to not do something they have often done their homework and can put forward a compelling argument why you are wrong.

 

 

Google 'sterilised loam', 'sterilised peat', 'sterilised soil' etc.

[Brian]

'Organic' does not mean riddled with nasties; there are plenty of organic materials used in medicine and surgery. Cotton bandages are organic; 'Mud' is used as a beauty treatment.

[Stuart91]

Just looking at this from a slightly different angle, dirt is heavy. If you're in a theatre, the floor will be capable of taking a decent load, but other rooms might not be so well provisioned. A thin layer of soil is probably not a big deal, but if they need great mounds of the stuff if might be worth checking.

 

But I agree with the general consensus that you shouldn't use H&S as an excuse unless there is an identifiable risk that can't be mitigated.

 

(Edited for typo. I have toes for fingers)

[Illuminatio]

The dust will get into lanterns and coat the lenses. As for its effect on stepper motors when combined with condensed haze or fog...

 

My bugbear at the moment is oil on the stage - especially baby oil. Some years ago we had to strip our (painted) stage back to the wood to remove the grease worn in by flying saucers on the base of some set pieces.

 

I remember a production many years ago which used peat, blood, water, flour and milk (and probably other stuff). By the end of the run it had flowed off the raked stage and was fermenting nicely in the orchestra pit.

[Young Johnstone]

The dust will get into lanterns and coat the lenses. As for its effect on stepper motors when combined with condensed haze or fog

.

 

Never deprepped Moving Lights after a festival?? light brown dust on everything!

[the kid]

Flints sell mud

[Dave m]

I did "for the love of a good man" years ago.

 

Set in a WW1 battlefield that turned into a war cemetery.

 

There was probably 5 tons of denatured mud on stage.

AFAIK it had been irradiated.

 

By chance, I'd also worked in an iradiation plant as a student. The plant did everything from surgical instruments, to animal food and bedding, as you don't want your experimental animal dying from a bedding born germ, rather than the one you actually give it.

 

The stuff went into the machine in boxes roughly 3 feet by 2 x 2 and on to a conveyer. I assume that there's bigger plant that possibly is more like a container with a huge door and forklift access.

 

But you could use the stuff for ages before it picked up enough bugs to be "back to nature"

[Seano]

With apologies for the thread necromancy, I was working on a show this evening that reminded me of this topic, so I thought I'd stick a photo up:

 

http://www.deepsoup.f2s.com/BR/arenacross2.jpg

 

I don't know exactly, but I think there's something of the order of 1000 tonnes of topsoil there. The floor (well, ice mostly) is protected by a visqueen membrane sandwiched between two layers of 19mm OSB.