In short
- A usable theatre record keeps the whole stage in view, with clear dialogue and songs.
- We plan with the director and stage manager, who know the cues, blocking and changes.
- Rights to the script, music and choreography are confirmed with you before filming.
- Rehearsal, a single performance or several nights can each be recorded, and the choice affects the result.
A theatre or musical record has to hold the whole show: the stage, the cast, the dialogue and the songs. We plan with the director and stage manager so the recording follows the production as they built it.
What do we film, and who is the record for?
We film stage plays, musicals, school and university productions, community theatre and touring shows. The record may serve the company’s archive, a grant or licence report, a cast keepsake, or promotion for the next production.
The director wants the staging as designed. Cast and families want their scenes. The producer may need a recording for a funder or rights-holder. Tell us the main use first and we plan around it.
Which records can we choose from?
| Output | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Complete show recording | The whole production in one continuous file | Archive, cast, funders |
| Multi-night edit | The best takes of each scene joined into one show | A cleaner final record where several nights are filmed |
| Scene or song files | Separate files for chosen scenes or numbers | Auditions, cast portfolios |
| Highlight film | An edited story of the production | Promotion. See event highlight films |
| Short clips | Vertical cuts of chosen moments | Social media, subject to rights. See event social video clips |
A highlight film cannot replace a complete record. To choose between them, read choosing complete performances or a promotional show recap.
What do we agree before the show?
- The script, running order and intervals: scene lists, song numbers and where the pauses fall.
- The people to follow: leads, ensemble, musicians and any speaking cues.
- Cues and blocking: with the stage manager, so we know when actors will move or the lights will drop.
- Rights and permissions: from the rights-holder and cast, covering recording, storage and any online use.
- Rehearsal access: whether we can attend a dress rehearsal to study the show.
- Delivery: who receives which files and how you review them.
The run-sheet filming planner helps turn the scene list into a filming plan. To decide between recording a rehearsal or a public show, see choosing rehearsal or public-show recording.
How do we work on the day?
Before the show, we look at the stage, the lighting design and where the audience sits. A wide camera keeps the full stage in view, and extra operators, if needed, add closer shots of key moments. Details are in multi-camera event recording.
During performances we stay quiet and out of sight. Dark scenes, spotlights and blackouts are hard to record, so we go through the lighting plan with your team and agree beforehand what to do with any scene that is too dark.
Tell us if the production uses haze, strobes or projections, as they change how a scene looks on camera. For a run of several nights, tell us which nights have the full cast, since that can decide which night is filmed. We take sound from the venue’s system where possible, because stage voices record poorly on camera microphones alone.
Can we add a livestream or captions?
Both are available on request, confirmed for each production. A livestream lets relatives or supporters watch from home, if the rights allow it. Captions and subtitles can be prepared for a translated or accessible version. Each depends on your rights, venue and schedule.
The quote moves with how many performances and rehearsals we film, the cameras and crew, and travel. See how pricing works.
This is where we help: send the dates, venue and whether you want one recording or several, and we will suggest a plan to take to your director and stage manager.
If you can share the performance dates, the venue and whether you want a single recording or several, that is enough for us to suggest a plan with your director and stage manager. We will then check which dates we can cover.
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