CLEVER SETS, PROPS & COSTUMES
On this page:
• Planning clever sets & props
• Guide to small set pieces
• Guide to flats & backdrops
• Ideas for reusable materials
OK, you’ve made the decision to put together a performance (such as Wakakirri Story-Dance, a school concert or a play) and you have a clear idea of what the performance will be about. Now it’s time to plan your costuming, sets and props – a good plan will translate to saving money and allowing more time to work on the actual performance.
Once you make the decision to approach your sets, props and costumes in a resourceful, environmentally sustainable way, you will be amazed at just how simple it can be to come up with visually stunning, low-cost, reused and reusable items! Items that enhance the delivery of your performance, are well used and are not gratuitous.
Here is one way to develop your plan:
• Identify the characters in each scene.
• Determine sets (if any) required for each scene.
• Design a costume for each character (students can do this).
• Look at the materials required for each.
• Determine which materials (that would have been bought) can be replaced with reused materials.
• Set up an area in the school for collection of these materials.
• Send out a newsletter to your school community asking for these materials to be donated.
• Visit your nearest ‘Reverse Garbage’ depot for items not sourced through parents/students.
• Call up schools/dance schools in your area to source costumes (get in touch with a Wakakirri State/Territory Coordinator for the names of schools who have performed a story similar to yours in previous years).
WASTE AUDITS
Conducting a WASTE AUDIT is a great way to accumulate free materials to use in performances. A waste audit is basically a big clean up where all unwanted, broken or old materials, equipment and odds and ends are gathered together for reusing or recycling. Maybe that old fabric in the back of someone’s classroom could become your costumes or those flat footballs no one wanted might make great eyes for bugs or monsters! Some schools even begin their performance process with a waste audit – after all, it’s much easier to work with what you already have.
So, start collecting, converting, resizing, and reusing!
Rozelle Public School NSW came up with their 2004 Story-Dance performace after conducting a waste audit in their school. The odds and ends they came up with – everything from old chairs to fishing nets – gave them many creative ideas for story and characters and saved them from having to buy anything new!
Eifel tower of PET bottles & Plastic shopping bag skirts (Rozelle Public School NSW 2003)
Aeroplane
Individual planes that are ‘worn’ by students can be made very simply from a few cardboard boxes and elastic shoulder straps (or the students could even hold them up with handles). A larger plane can be made using two fridge boxes (one for the body of the plane, the other for wings, tail, etc).
Binoculars
Two coke cans and a neck strap made from a strip of reused fabric! If you are painting aluminium cans check what type of paint you are using so that they can still be recycled. If you are a South Australian school, ensure that part of the original can is visible for your refund at the recycling depot! If you’re using alcohol cans please make sure the labels are covered or painted.
Boats
Rather than rebuilding the Titanic, why not just represent a boat with these simple ideas: old sheets on poles representing sails; a few portholes carried by the ships passengers; performers sailing over blue fabric as water…
St Josephs’ Bulli (NSW) used sails to cross the ocean and convey their story. Whilst Thornleigh West PS (NSW) had students play the part of boats with a few bits of cardboard and some white fabric.
Cars/Buses/Trains etc
Fridge boxes! Use a fridge box for the body of the vehicle. Cut the bottom out so students can ‘drive’ around the stage with their feet. Use aluminium cans to create the bumper bars, or a ladder for a fire truck.
Chairs/Tables
• Reuse classroom chairs/desks and decorate with removable items. These can be returned to their original use after the performance.
• Use cardboard boxes – these can be recycled after the performance. We suggest whitegoods boxes or packing boxes, as they are sturdiest.
• For purely decorative chairs/tables, collect aluminium cans and glue together for the legs. Make the seat and back of the chair/top of the table from reused cardboard. The entire chair/table can then be deconstructed and sent off for recycling.
Dragons
Chinese dragons/ hungry caterpillars/ dreamtime snakes – all dramatic, colourful, easy to fold up and a great use of scrap materials. Old hoops can give the body of the dragon structure whilst the ‘skin’ can be made from plastic bags or old sheets painted and the heads built from light papier mache, a strong piece of cardboard or large plastic water bottles. These also look great displayed in the school library afterwards!
Rosary Primary School ACT.
Flags and sails
Reuse sheets or pillowcases. Source material remnants for detail of flags. Trace a design on to an overhead transparency and then project this onto your fabric. Cut and sew! Make a rod pocket heading to slip your flag on to a reused broom handle.
Flowers
Again, students used as flowers that can move are best (especially to demonstrate the growth of a flower or how flowers move in the garden). You can source foam off-cuts from Reverse Garbage centres or even carpet underlay off-cuts to create giant flower ‘heads’ which can be worn by the students. For decorative flowers, 1.25 or 2 litre reused softdrink bottles are great. Simply cut the bottom off the bottle. Cut vertical slits or petal shapes into the bottle and fan them out. Paint/decorate and attach to reused rulers/blackboard rulers (covered in green paper) etc or place in a bunch to create a bouquet.
Gaols
Create the impression of a gaol or cage with these ideas: the metal frame of a mobile wardrobe strunge with old black stockings (performers can also climb through these bars for an effective and quick escape); plastic netting used by road workers held by performers or a small set of bars cut from a piece if carboard held infront of their face…
Carboard strips tied toegther create a cage effect (Cooma North PS ACT/NSW), prison bars can be reprsented by the side of a cardboard box with slits cut into it (Ruyton Girls School SA) or eleastic/ stocking strung on the frame of a portable wardrobe (Bonnyrigg Heights PS NSW).
Rainbow
Collect aluminium cans of various colours e.g. Coke (red), Scwheppes lemonade (blue), Solo (yellow), Fanta (orange), lime mineral water (green), Passiona (indigo), Deep Spring Mineral Water passionfruit (violet). Reused cardboard can form the frame upon which the colours are glued (ROYBGIV) in correct order.
Toongabbie Christian School’s (NSW) impressive rainbow made from aluminium cans.
Sun
Create a base out of reused cardboard. Collect Solo and Fanta cans and glue these on to the base. Or make a sun from an old hoop covered in yellow fabric held on bamboo sticks.
Surf Board
Once again – think fridge boxes. Cut out the shape of the surfboard. Glue on polystyrene (sourced from reused broccoli boxes). Get the students to paint on some funky designs!
Tank
Two fridge boxes placed length-ways side by side (remove middle panels) with another large box placed on top (remove cardboard between so that the students can stand up). Cut a flap in the top box as the opening. Reuse plastic buckets and offcut carpet underlay to create the ‘caterpillar’ wheels. Cylindrical post-it tubes make great canons! Cut the base out so students can ‘drive’ the tank around the stage with their feet. You can avoid creating guns by using the students own arms as artillery (check out Panania North Primary School’s winning 2004 story-dance for some effective ideas for recreating a battle on stage tastefully).
Trees
The best idea here is to use students for trees (afterall, trees that sway in the breeze are far more interesting than cardboard trees that stand still!). However, if you wish to make trees, you could collect large detergent/disinfectant bottles from the cleaners at your school (make sure you wash them out really well!) and cut and stack them to create a trunk. Shredded plastic shopping bags suspended from wire branches makes for an effective weeping willow!
Windmill
Reuse a classroom easel or a ladder as the frame. Cut out blades from sturdy reused cardboard or use the inside of reused long-life fruit juice containers. Cut open and flatten aluminium cans and glue on to the blades for another metallic effect. The easel/ladder can then be returned to its original use and the cardboard and cans recycled.
Onto a winner! Made from hundreds of cans and plastic bottles glued to boxes. Performers appeared from inside and moved down slides on each side to represent molten lava! (Elizabeth South PS, SA – National Winner Eco-Zone Award 2003)
Guide to flats & backdrops
Many of the following ideas have been sourced from past Wakakirri Story-Dance schools. We take this opportunity to thank these schools for their clever, resourceful and money-saving approaches to sets, props and costumes!
The most commonly used set pieces for on-stage performances are flats/backdrops. The general rationale for their use is to help set the scene being played out on stage. Of course, you don’t need to use flats or backdrops at all if you don’t want to! If you decide that the inclusion of flats/backdrops will enhance the performance, you need to design the pieces, source materials and put it all together. This need not be a daunting, time-consuming, expensive task! Following are a few low-cost, environmentally friendly ideas to stimulate your team’s creativity:
Flat with French bracing
Free standing one-sided flats created using a covered frame supported on small legs.
Free standing flats covered in aluminium cans (Mt Victoria PS NSW)
Three sided flats
A popular form of flats, that will need some construction work but can be used over and over again, are three sided triangle structures. To make these start with three light wooden frames with thin ply or cardboard attached. These simple flats can then be hinged on each side to form a three sided object which is then placed on castor wheels to make three different scenes. A simple bolt hinge between each flat will make them easy to take apart for storage and transport.
A few hints: Be careful when building 3D structures like this that they still fit within the Wakakirri sets and props rules – especially the rule that all sets and props must be no deeper than 79cm. Three thin flats of 90cm width and 250cm height can be joined together at their sides to create a three-sided object that still fits within the Waka rules – but make sure you draw it all up on paper before you start building. Perhaps a chance for your students to practice their trigonometry!
Fridge Boxes
Is there anything more versatile than a fridge box? It can be used to create an abundance of set and prop pieces – four-sided ‘flats’, houses, cars, buses, tables – you name it! The cardboard is sturdy and very reusable. They are ideal as they offer four sides therefore four scene changes. They are free, easy to transport, can be folded up for storage and fall into the maximum dimensions of 250cm x 200cm x 79cm. You can put them on removable wheelbases to allow for smooth scene changes and if stored well, they can be reused time and again. If they are not to be reused, at least they can be recycled.
Mobile Wardrobes
Don’t go and buy these – ask your parent community! These are great as they are already on wheels and you can simply attach cardboard to them. At the end of the series they can be pulled apart, wardrobes returned and cardboard either put away for next year, displayed in a classroom or sent off for recycling.
A gaol cell made from a metal frame on wheels with thin polypipe attached as bars. This frame can be used in future years as a flat by attaching cardboard to it. (Taylor Primary School ACT)
Mobile Blackboards
A clever way to reuse these is to fasten old sheets to the top (with the desired scene painted on each sheet) and then simply flip the sheets over (or if they are attached with velcro tear them away) to reveal the next scene. The sheets can be reused for other performances/Wakakirri Story-Dance entries and the blackboards returned to their previous owner. Be sure to check the dimensions of the blackboards!
Reused Milk Bottles and Long-Life Fruit Juice Containers
Two or three litre plastic milk bottles or long-life fruit juice containers are great to reuse as ‘bricks’ under papier mache. A little more time-consuming perhaps, but the process is great for including your students! Simply fasten the containers together (try liquid nails) and reuse collected newspapers/classroom paper waste for your papier mache. The finished product will provide two sides to paint on and at the end of the series can be deconstructed for recycling.
A frame of milk bottles attached to wood was constructed as two parts on wheels that were each rolled onto stage to ‘frame’ the MTV rock star performers in this story-dance. (Gold Creek Senior School ACT)
Multipurpose Cardboard Boxes
This is a VERY clever idea! Collect cardboard boxes (cubes are best) and use them in a variety of ways in the one production:
• Paint one or two sides for scenery;
• Paint other sides for other parts of the set e.g. columns, bench seats, houses, etc…remember, you will have SIX sides to work with!
Students can then move, stack and rotate them through a variety of purposes.
Alternatives to flats and backdrops…
• Act it, don’t build it…how can the performers be the sets and scenery?
• Think of flexible fabrics to use rather than static built items
• How can you use lighting to show the scene?
• A single flat, column or object be as effective as a whole wall of wobbly flats.
• Consider a simple metal or wooden frame with an old blind attached that can be opened to reveal performers behind
Ideas for reusable materials
You can find the materials for creating sets, props and costumes almost anywhere…
Air-Conditioner tubing
Light. Silver. Shinny. Bendy. An easy and excellent costume. Short offcuts can be sourced from local factories or reverse garbage centres (although avoid any that has been near fiberglass insulation or such).
Aircon tubing offuts become the arms and legs of a giant robot puppet (Waitara PS NSW). Or, with students climbing inside them, Gymea Bay PS NSW uses them as a 3D factory scene or magical character from the Far Away Tree
Aluminium Cans
There are many uses for cans (and the ring-pulls)!
• Join ring-pulls together to make jewellery, belts, ‘punk’ accessories.
• Join cans together to create ‘chains’ for ghosts.
• Cut and flatten cans for armour plating.
• Cut cans in spirals for interesting ‘medusa’ style hair.
Aluminium Foil/Easter Egg Foil
Send a letter home requesting that parents collect and wash any foil they use. Reuse this foil for jewellery, decorations on masks, alien costumes etc.
Bottles (plastic only)
• Cut plastic milk bottles up into feathers. Attach to a white shirt to create a bird.
• Use 3 litre milk bottles to create masks/ headdresses that fit onto the actor’s head.
• Cut 2/3 litre milk bottles into squares/rectangles for a different approach to armour.
• Glue a series of small plastic softdrink bottles onto a headband for a ‘Statue of Liberty’ style headdress.
• Use the inside of reused long-life fruit juice containers for metallic effects.
Boxes
Small boxes make great hats, costumes or props.
Box heads from Waitara PS NSW
Chopsticks
Can be reused as whiskers on cat/mouse mask. Return to their original use after the performance.
Clothes From Home
Sounds obvious? Look at costumes that can be derived from clothing the students already own. Why make overalls for farmers when you could reuse a pair of their jeans, a T-shirt and simply make a bib to add for the ‘overalls’ effect. Similarly, if your story is concerned with bullying in the playground, use your school uniforms!
Egg Cartons
Great for making googly eyes! Could also be used to create the lumps and bumps for a dinosaur costume or the scales for a snake/fish.
Fake Flowers
Call for donations from your parent community. Reuse these on clown’s costumes or for a bride’s bouquet.
Feather Dusters
Bunch several together to create a feather headdress, a peacock’s plume, an emu’s body.
Helmets
Grab a bike helmet or hard hat and turn it into a paper mache animal or creature for greater height and effect.
Helmet becomes animal headpiece in the hands of Cooma North PS NSW/ACT. The mane on this papier mache Zebra is an old broom.
Macdonald Valley and Spencer St Primary Schools used bike helmets with streamers attached (along with boxes fitted as costumes) in their Story-Dance.
Hosiery
Reuse hosiery for a variety of purposes:
• Stuff with filling for spider legs.
• As a mask for robbers.
• Stretch over wire coat hangers for angel/butterfly wings.
Hankies
Gather together several hankies onto an elastic wrist band/neck band to create African style adornments. Consider dying or painting (if they can be kept) for desired colour/effect.
Hats
If you are seeking hats always send a note home – you’d be amazed at what’s out there amongst parents and grandparents.
Ice-Cream Containers
Reuse ice-cream containers to create:
• bus-boy/porter's hats.
• helmets.
Jewellery (costume)
Asking your parent/grand-parent community is a great way to stock up on previously unwanted costume jewellery. You can then reuse it as jewellery, or apply it to masks, headdresses etc as decoration.
Milo Tins
Creating robots, a tin-man or aliens? Consider Milo tins to dress arms and legs.
Mosquito Netting
This can be reused for bridal/fairy costumes whilst keeping it intact if the netting is to be returned to its original use. If you are allowed to keep it then you can cut it up for tutu’s, petticoats etc.
Plastic Pot Plant Pots
Also great for robots, soldiers or aliens. Can be used for hats/helmets.
Flattened aluminium cans become a suit of armour (Campbell PS ACT) and this soldier has a plastic pot plant for a helmet, cardboard armour and aluminium can shield (Taylor PS ACT).
Paper
Newspaper skirts; classroom waste paper for papier mache objects or any kind.
Plastic Shopping Bags
• Gather tightly in several layers onto a waistband of elastic for a perfect tutu.
• Cut into strips and attach to a headband for wigs.
• Shred and attach to a lion mask for the mane.
• Stuff into the arms of an octopus or puppet.
St Joseph’s Primary School QLD and Duffy Primary School ACT plastic bag hair.
Styrofoam/foam
Fairly versatile product with many applications. Great for iceberg costumes, headdresses that sit atop the head, flowers with a hole for the face. (JUST NOTE: When painting, be sure to use a water-based paint and do a test area first – many paints will ‘melt’ the foam).
Thornleigh West Primary School NSW 2004. The polystyrene insides from computer boxes became wearable iceberg costumes spinning around the cold antarctic ocean.
Table-Cloths
Unwanted tablecloths make terrific togas or turbans.
Umbrella’s
Use as umbrellas! Or, for a twist, turn them into jellyfish, mushrooms or flying saucers which the student’s use as puppets. Use as wheels for groups of performers forming cars, buses, etc. Umbrellas make great wheels to represent a cart, train etc
Sheets
No doubt many parents have old sheets that can be donated for reuse. Consider dying them or painting them for the desired colour/pattern. Sheets can be reused to form the basis of many costumes – colonials/convicts, pirates, doctors/nurses,…the list goes on and on! Sheets over a wooden frame make a good flat and can be backlit with torches to show silhouettes.
Video Tape
Ask parents to donate worn out videos and reuse the tape to create wigs. The foot section of reused stockings (preferably black) is ideal for the cap of the wig. Centres like Reverse Garbage often have buckets full of old videotape.
Maitland Public School NSW
National Eco-Zone winners. Wigs made from old videotape.
Or these video tape wigs by Merrimac SS QLD in which were lent to another school in 2004.
Washing Trolleys
Houshold washing trolleys covered in carboard or fabric wheel easily around stage and can be returned to their old use at the end of the performance.
Maitland Public School NSW (2004 National Eco-Zone Winners) created this horse and chariot from a washing trolley on wheels covered in fabric cardboard and old fabric.
Conical spools (for thread)
They can be found at badge-making shops or workwear retailers (anywhere that does embroidery) and are perfect for horns or princess hats.
Cardboard boxes
Found at most retailers (eg small boxes from mechanics, packing boxes from any shop.
Cartridge boxes from cartridge-remanufacturers are great - they have have a fairly large stock of funny/odd-shaped moulded cardboard which was used to protect the cartridge in it's box .... these are perfect for a cave or cliff wall, or castles, or anything really! (check out www.acra.asn.au for nearest shop)
Nets
Bits of nets might be sourced through orchards, aquaculture farms, vineyards.
Often it just requires a call out to the community at large re: things they normally throw away - they may not see these items as resources, but a few creative minds can turn it into something amazing!
Cans
Steel cans can come in handy when creating all manner of things. Cansmart are dedicated to preventing steel cans from becoming landfill - so check out the following two resources for more information on steel cans.
The life cycle of a steel can
Cansmart findaword activity sheet
