Exploring the Stage at the Opéra national de Lorraine

Take a look at the technical elements hiding behind the scenes at the opera house.

Opera house main stage (2020)Opéra national de Lorraine

The Proscenium

The stage proscenium opens out onto the main hall of the opera house. It is a fixed opening (34 ft x 20.9 ft) at the edge of the stage, built into the architecture of the room.

The Safety CurtainOpéra national de Lorraine

The Safety Curtain

Found at the front of the stage, the safety curtain can immediately be deployed to protect the hall if a fire breaks out on stage.

Set (2020)Opéra national de Lorraine

The Fly Loft

Situated above the stage, the fly loft is made up of a grid and walkways. There are 59 feet between the stage floor and the underside of the grid.

Battens (2020)Opéra national de Lorraine

The Battens

Battens are metal tubes in the fly loft, to which scenery, lighting fixtures, or other equipment is attached. Each one can support a load of 550 lb. Motors are used for heavier elements.

Pains sur fils (2020)Opéra national de Lorraine

The Lines

Scenery technicians use lines to control the equipment attached to the battens. Blocks the same weight as the equipment attached to the battens are fastened to the other end of the lines. This counterbalancing system is used to lower or lift items attached to the battens.

Pains, 2020, From the collection of: Opéra national de Lorraine
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These are the blocks, the same weight as the equipment attached to the battens, that counterbalance.

Locks (2020)Opéra national de Lorraine

The Locks

The locks are used to raise a batten to equip it, park it (hide a piece of scenery in the loft), and also to secure a batten after adjusting it to ensure safety.

Walkways (2020)Opéra national de Lorraine

The Walkways

At each level, walkways overhang the stage, allowing technicians to pass from stage left to stage right (known in French as the garden and courtyard sides respectively).

Grid (2020)Opéra national de Lorraine

The Grid

The grid is the top level of the stage set-up. Here, you can find the cables supporting the battens.

Grid, 2020, From the collection of: Opéra national de Lorraine
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Grid's floor is made of boards, which are giving it the french denomination of "grill" as a reference to the kitchen tool.

Head blocks (2020)Opéra national de Lorraine

The Head Blocks

Each batten is held by five lines: these steel cables start at the grid and are distributed by head blocks.

The Ghost Light (2020)Opéra national de Lorraine

The Ghost Light

When the opera house closes its doors, the ghost light alone remains on the stage. This permanently illuminated light helps you to get your bearings when the stage is plunged into darkness.

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