How to Make a Theater Flat

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Adding scenery to your stage performance
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Theatre flats, or scenery flats, are placed at the back and sides of a stage and painted to provide a background for the performance. Flats come in two styles. A Broadway flat is made by stretching canvass over a frame to create a one-dimensional background. A Hollywood flat is made by turning the boards on their edges to make a three-dimensional, box-like frame. Each type is uniform in size and design so they can be stacked together and stored in a small space. You can build theatre flats from lumber, plywood, and cloth.

Things You Should Know

  • Measure and cut lumber for the frame of the flat. You'll need 2 long pieces for the sides, 2 shorter pieces for the top and bottom, and 3 for the supports.
  • Cut 4 triangular plywood pieces for the corners. Assemble the frame by gluing the corner pieces to the wooden planks with wood glue.
  • Cover the front of the frame with muslin or canvas. Fold the edges around the frame, and glue it in place. Then, paint the muslin according to your scene.
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Broadway Flat

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  1. You need 2 4-foot (1.2 meter) boards from 1-by-3-inch (20 by 65 mm) or 1-by-4-inch (20 by 90 mm) of pine lumber.
  2. The finished flat will measure 8 feet (2.4) tall.
    • Lumber dimensions refer to the unfinished boards, so 1-by-3-inch lumber actually measures 3 ⁄ 4 inch (1.9 cm) (19 mm) by 2-1/2 inches (64 mm). And, 1-by-4-inch lumber actually measures 3 ⁄ 4 inch (1.9 cm) (19 mm) by 3-1/2 inches (89 mm).
    • If you're using 1-by-3-inch lumber, the stiles should be cut to 91 inches (230 cm) (2.31 m); if using 1-by-4-inch lumber, cut the stiles to 89 inches (230 cm) (2.26 m).
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  3. Don't attach the boards to one another.
    • One board will become the toggle. Place this inside the frame between the two stiles so it divides the frame into equal top and bottom sections.
    • Two boards will serve as corner braces. Cut these on the miter and place them between the top rail and left stile, and the bottom rail and left stile.
  5. Attach them to the 4 corners of the frame, where the rails meet the stiles, with carpenters glue and pneumatic staples.
  6. Use these to attach the corner braces to the rails and stiles and to attach the left side of the toggle to the left stile. Use glue and staples.
  7. Attach this to the right side of the toggle to the right stile with glue and staples.
  8. Lay the cloth over the frame and staple it into place along the insides of the rails and stiles.
  9. Paint the boards with thinned carpenter's glue and smooth the edges back do wn.
  11. It will stiffen and shrink slightly, becoming taut.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Hollywood Flat

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  1. Cut 1-by-2-inch (20 by 45 mm) or 1-by-3-inch (20 by 65 mm) pine lumber to create a frame that is 4 feet (1.2 meters) wide and 8 feet (2.4) meters tall. Cut a toggle as well.
  3. Cover the front with 1/4-inch (6 mm) or 1/8-inch (3 mm) lauan—a thin tropical plywood with a smooth surface that's easy to paint.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I build movable chairs or steps for kids in the theater?
    Community Answer
    Build hollow stairs with wheels on the bottom. Attach wheels to the bottom of chairs to make them moveable.
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  • Question
    What is the approximate cost for a standard flat?
    Community Answer
    Depending on materials used it can be less than 10 dollars generally. You can reduce the cost by using scrap materials, or reusing old flats. You might be able to find a theater that will let you borrow a few or use theirs for a mention in your production credits the more resourceful, the less you will spend.
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  • Question
    If I am making frames for theater flats and facing them with overlapped featheredge boards instead of wood or canvas, should I still use plywood corner blocks, straps and keystones for stability?
    Community Answer
    Yes. The facing of the flat may change according to the current show, but the flat structure should remain solid and square. Use 1/4” Luann to face the flat, this will help with squaring. Then attach your decorative featheredge boards to it.
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      Tips

      • Both types of flats can be "skinned" on both sides so they can be turned around to form the backdrop of another scene. However, to make a Broadway flat two-sided, you first skin the front side, then remove the plywood corner blocks, straps, and keystone before skinning the back side. If you plan to make a Broadway flat two-sided, use a method of fastening the blocks, straps, and keystone that will allow them to be easily removed.
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      Things You'll Need

      • 1-by-2-inch (20 by 45 mm), 1-by-3-inch (20 by 65 mm) or 1-by-4-inch (20 by 90 mm) pine lumber
      • 1/4-inch (6 mm) or 1/8-inch (3 mm) lauan plywood
      • Miter saw
      • Jigsaw
      • Staple gun
      • Carpenters glue
      • Paint
      • Paintbrushes
      • Hammer
      • Nails

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      References

      1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flats_%28theatre%29
      2. http://www.ia470.com/primer/shop.htm

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you want to learn how to build a theatre flat, start by cutting pine lumber to create a frame that is 4 feet wide and 8 feet tall to make a Hollywood flat. Make sure that you cut a toggle as well, which will be placed inside the frame to divide it into equal top and bottom sections. Then, assemble the frame by nailing the boards together. Finish by covering the front of the frame with 1/4 inch or 1/8 inch lauan, which is a thin tropical plywood with a smooth surface that’s easy to paint. For more ways to build a theatre flat, including how to build a Broadway flat, scroll down!

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