Let’s Design — Stage Technicals 2 – Class 7 Arts Chapter 3 Notes & NCERT PDF

Class 7ArtsChapter 3NCERT book: Kriti - Arts Class 7

Notes and a simple summary of Chapter 3 of the NCERT Class 7 Arts book, with the official chapter PDF, flashcards, an MCQ quiz and an AI tutor for your doubts.

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Chapter 3: Let’s Design — Stage Technicals 2 (Theatre)

Introduction

A tree in full bloom is beautiful because of its strong roots; an ancient temple stands because of its deep foundation. In theatre, that support system is the backstage crew — people who work hard so that the performance runs without glitches. Backstage work is as important as acting, if not more.

This chapter has two parts: (i) Backstage work — the invisible pillar of theatre and (ii) Script writing — "Write Right". You also learn life skills like problem solving, discipline and integrity.

Key Ideas

Four backstage departments (during the show)

Set and properties — change sets between scenes, keep hand props ready, keep the stage clear, support actors if something goes wrong.

Costume and make up — get actors ready, help with quick changes, fix minor tears.

Music — work with actors and tech team on cues, create music and sound effects, cover glitches with sound.

Lighting — plan lights, know cues, time lights and support actors during unexpected issues.

Before and after the show

Before: make the set or backdrop; borrow, rent or buy props; mark exact placements; practise quick changes during a blackout (lights are off only for about 30 seconds between scenes); design, procure or make costumes and plan wigs; hold a costume rehearsal; check mics, speakers and sound mixers; tune instruments; plan the light design during rehearsals and rig lights.

After: dismantle and pack the set carefully, transport and store it, fix issues for the next show, return borrowed items; collect, check, repair, wash and iron costumes; safely pack instruments, wires and plugs; separate the team's lights from the venue's.

A play with about 8–10 actors may need at least 15–18 people backstage.

Life skills from backstage work

Planning, management and discipline; team work and leadership; communication; human resource (right people for each job); resource management (materials on time, budget); time management; sales and marketing (a good audience). Discipline means attending all rehearsals, following the director, arriving on time and helping others.

Backstage professionals mentioned:

V Rama Murthy — known across India for lighting, sound, stage design, mime and music; trained many backstage crew.

Tapas Sen — expert lighting designer (1940–2006), called a magician with lights; designed lights for the year 2000 new year celebrations at the Eiffel Tower, Paris.

Three bells in theatre

First bell — audience maintains silence; the first scene's sets and props are on stage.

Second bell — actors in position, stage mics on, announcement made (play, playwright, director) and a ban on flash photography and phones.

Third bell — the show begins!

History of backstage

The Natyashastra (over 2500 years old) gives step-by-step instructions for show preparation. This is called Poorvaranga Vidhi.

Natya Gruha was the performance space; Nepathya was the backstage — the whole space around the stage except the audience. Its procedures are Nepathya Vidhi.

Mahavarinis — big elephant-shaped pillars at the stage corners where sets and props were kept ready. Today side wings do this; theatres usually have three wings on each side.

In Greek theatre, actors got ready behind the open-air stage among green vineyards and bushes — the origin of the Green Room.

Na Tathāgniḥ Pradahati Prabhañjanasamīritaḥ, Yathā Hyapaprayogastu Prayukto Dahati Kṣaṇāt.

Fire spread by a strong wind does not damage as much as a wrongly planned production. (Natyashastra, Chapter 5, Poorvaranga)

Part II — Script writing: "Write Right"

"Without the script, a play is like a ship without compass."

Structure — the order of events. Every story needs:

Protagonist — who the story is about.

Goal — what he/she wants.

Conflict — the obstacle.

Resolution — does he/she achieve the goal, and how?

Example, the Ramayana: protagonist Rama; goal — rule Ayodhya and follow Dharma; conflict — banished for 14 years and Sita kidnapped by Ravana; resolution — with Hanuman's help brings back Sita and returns to rule.

Characters — know your main characters (name, age, background, individual problem). Characters change through the story: this is the character arc. In the book's example, Harsha is afraid of darkness; his Ajji's story of overcoming her own fear inspires him. Supporting characters must make a difference to the main character or goal or give context — a milkman who adds nothing should be removed.

Scenes — divisions that mark a change in time, place or action. Each scene needs a purpose, a valid transition, its own beginning–middle–end, a strong first scene and an impactful last scene.

Activities in the Chapter

Problem-solving scenarios — (1) the main actor injures his leg and his made-to-order costume is torn, 5 hours before the show; (2) the magical bracelet the story revolves around is stolen on show day.

Theatre skills in my life list — e.g. take care of your belongings; practise regularly instead of saving everything for the last minute.

Activity 3.2.1 — find protagonist, goal, conflict and resolution for stories like Chandragupta Maurya and Kautilya, and Prabhavati Gupta.

Activities 3.2.2–3.2.3 — list main and supporting characters and check their purpose.

Write your own script — alone or in a group of 3–4, build Beginning–Middle–End, apply the structure, create characters, divide into scenes and write "Draft 1".

Key Terms

Backstage (नेपथ्य) — work and space behind the performance

Props / properties (मंच-सामग्री)

Cue (संकेत) — signal for music or light

Blackout (अंधकार-अंतराल) — lights off between scenes

Rigging (लाइट लगाना) — fixing lights in position

Poorvaranga Vidhi (पूर्वरंग विधि) — ancient show preparation

Nepathya Vidhi (नेपथ्य विधि) — backstage procedures

Side wings (पार्श्व) — entry/exit spaces

Green Room (श्रृंगार कक्ष)

Protagonist (नायक/नायिका)

Conflict (संघर्ष)

Resolution (समाधान)

Character arc (पात्र-विकास)

Scene (दृश्य)

Connect to Your Life

The show is like the final exam after many rehearsals. Backstage habits — planning, looking after your things, practising regularly — help you avoid exam stress.

Common Mistakes

Thinking backstage work matters only during the show; much happens before and after.

Confusing Nepathya (backstage space) with Natya Gruha (the whole performance place).

Adding characters without a purpose.

Making abrupt scene changes that don't follow the audience's thought flow.

Let's Reflect

Which backstage department interests you most, and why?

Solve both backstage scenarios considering time and money.

Identify the character arc and flaw of your favourite film or play character.

💡 Key Learning Points

✓Backstage has four main departments — set and properties, costume and make up, music, and lighting — with work before, during and after a show.
✓Backstage work builds life skills: planning, discipline, team work, communication, and time and resource management.
✓The Natyashastra's Poorvaranga Vidhi and Nepathya Vidhi describe ancient backstage practice; the Green Room comes from Greek theatre.
✓A story's structure is protagonist, goal, conflict and resolution.
✓Good scripts have characters with arcs, purposeful supporting characters and scenes that change in time, place or action.

👨‍🏫 Teaching Tips

→Open with the tree-roots and temple-foundation analogy before defining backstage.
→Divide the class into the four departments and let each list its before, during and after tasks.
→Enact the three-bell sequence at the start of a class performance.
→Give the two backstage scenarios to groups with a time and budget limit and compare solutions.
→Map the Ramayana on protagonist–goal–conflict–resolution, then do the same for Social Science stories.
→Use the Harsha and Ajji example to explain character arc, and the milkman to show unnecessary characters.
→Let groups of 3–4 write a 'Draft 1' script from a picture prompt and rehearse it.

📋 Assessment Questions

Can the student list tasks of each backstage department before, during and after a show?
Can the student explain what the three bells mean?
Can the student identify protagonist, goal, conflict and resolution in a given story?
Can the student compare ancient Nepathya practices with today's backstage?
Can the student divide a story into purposeful scenes and write a draft script?

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← Previous: Chapter 2Say More without Speech — Mime Next: Chapter 4 →Story of India’s Storytelling Tradition