Panto. Applying Stage Gauze to the Calico Trees. (December 2013).

Once the Scaled up trees had been cut out of calico we had to add stage gauze to the top back parts of the trees.
We had to do this to give the leafy part of the tree, at the top, support, so it wouldn't droop down once hung in the theatre.
When we first found the stage gauze, which had been stored in the lock-up in a black bin bag, we discovered, for whatever reason, it was absolutely soaking wet! We hung the gauze to dry outside over the fence and dress rail, hoping it would dry and air sufficiently so we could use it. It did have a terrible musty smell to it at this stage.
Thankfully it did dry ok and we was able to use it.

 

We laid the top part of the calico tree out on the workshop floor and cut stage gauze to fit the cut out sections of the tree at the top, thus filling in the empty gaps with gauze to support the leafy part of the tree so it would not droop and fold in on itself.

 

 

We then glued the gauze into position on the back of the calico. This was quite time consuming because the gauze is predominately a holey fabric, so it took a lot of glue to secure it.

 

 

After the gauze was secured in position, (see above picture), we had to allow it to dry before it could be painted.