Building description manual

Building

Many different spaces have been used for the performance of theatre, from private rooms to public squares, and from churches to shopping malls, as well as purpose-made and specifically adapted buildings.

The Canon project focuses on buildings and spaces that are intended (built or adapted) for use as a place of performance. To meet this definition, at least three of the following five criteria must be met:

1. the name includes a theatre-word such as opera, theatre, playhouse, and so on
2. it is mentioned in published sources as a theatre (for example, in posters, programmes, books)
3. there is a defined stage and/or auditorium space
4. it can accommodate a minimum audience of 200 people
5. it has a continuous history of performance for a minimum of five years

In the side line, we also gather information of other types of spaces, when they have a meaning for the history of technical theatre.

• workshops of theatres, when they have an added value, for example paint shops with historic paint frames.
• Event spaces, used for theatre
• Cinema’s used for theatre

On the other hand, temporary (open air) spaces, where, for example a medieval play was created or a festival took place are mentioned in the item of the event or performance. They are not considered theatres.

1.1.1 Additional notes

A new item for a rebuild theatre.

Sometimes it is hard to decide if a theatre that is refurbished or rebuild is a new theatre or not. Some examples can help you to make this decision:

• The theatre is not in the same place, but has the same name. This is clearly a new item. We decide based on the building as an object, not on the name it has. Often buildings are referred to by the name of the company for example.
• The theatre is in the same place, but has a complete different lay-out after rebuilding from scratch. This is probably a new item, because it would be difficult to describe both in one item.
• The theatre is adapted, widened or altered, starting from the same building. (the georeferenced stays the same. We consider this as the same building. The elements that are changed are noted with different dates.

One can explain the relation between the different theatres with the property “replaces” and the inverse property “is replaced by”.

Multiple spaces

Some buildings have several performance spaces. In this case we make a separate item for a second space and give it the same name as the theatre, with addition of the name of the space. The two items can be connected with the property “is part of”.

Used properties

If a table with clearly separated values in each column with appropriate Qid is available, it could be uploaded en masse by the site administrator.

Label*

• The name of the theatre, as used today, with between brackets the city and country code
• We do not translate the name of a theatre, except if the theatre itself uses names in different languages. (just copy in your language)

Description

• You can give a short (max 30 words) description of the theatre.
• The standard phrasing is “theatre building in [city], [country]”.
• In case of buildings with specific, important properties, these can be added.
• This will be translated

Also known as

• This field is used to facilitate searching.
• When a theatre is known under a nickname, or if it was called differently earlier, you can add an alias

Location in the hierarchy

Field* P19

The [field] for an item describing a building is always “architecture”

Type of information* P11

The [type of information] is always "theatre"

If the theatre also contains a collection, a second entry [type of information] is "collection". In this case also check the chapter about collections)

Importance P20

represents the importance of the item in the whole of history. The essence is not to judge a theatre or it's qualities, but to be able to select relevant theatres for mass visualisations. The importance will by definition an arbitrary indicator.

Levels are:

Qid	Value name
Q504	No importance
Q9	Local importance
Q62	national or regional importance
Q96	international importance
Q97	turning point in history

We can use several elements to decide on the importance:

• Representative for an era or a change or an idea (role model)
• Uniqueness, one of a kind
• Reputation / listing
• Technological innovative
• Historic equipment still in place
• Important events have been taken place there that influence theatre history
• Full info / research / significant sources available
• 100 years old

The importance of a theatre can change over time, as more sources become available or new events occur. (This is also the reason that we include theatres of no importance. We can add sources if available. Moreover, on a local level these theatres add to the understanding of evolutions.)

Context P47

• Can be used to give more information about the theatre, the importance, etc. • Text length is limited, if needed add a second value. • Language is mandatory (fill the language of the text.)

General

Type of space P216

It refers to the type of performance the building was designed for. What kind of theatre space it is. Refers to the typology of the space.

  value list Q30810

Q30812	chamber theatre
Q3633	open air theater
Q25488	palace theatre
Q31695	studio theatre space
	coronation theatre
	opera house
	aréna
	circus

Existence P215

Refers to the existence of the theatre

  value list Q30810

Permanent

temporary

utopian/ideas/competition

virtual

Theatre space character P277

What nature does it have? Are theatre space and the building that comprises it identical or put differently, does the theatre space occupies the whole structur? if the answer is yes, then it is Q31274 or it is a part of larger complex then it takes one of other values.

  value list Q31308

Q31274	Theatre building space	Stucture and theatre identical
Q31276	theatre hall	permanent theatre in a builidng that comprises other facilites
Q31307	multipurpose hall	Space well eqipped for theatre that is used mainly for other purposes as well
Q31280	outdoor theatre

Preservation state P233

State of Existence of the space So far 9 choices available

 value list Q25454

Binary choice, whether the buidling that contains a theatre exists now?

Q25455	Existing building
Q22993	Extant building

Binary choice, whether it exists today as theatre

Q25456	Exists today as theatre
Q25457	Not existing as theatre today

It may also take other related properties

Q29854	historic equipment
Q31286	stage preserved
Q31287	representative building
Q31286	stage preserved
Q31306	space preserved
Q31305	theatre hall not preserved
	historic machinery

Architectural structure

purpose of the building containing a theatre P261

Main purpose of the building where the theatre hall is located

  value list Q25458

It may have many values and multiple at once are possible.

purpose of the building containing a theatre P261

Which purpose does the space have in the course of time?

  value list Q25458

It may have many values and multiple at once are possible. It may be qualified with

P38 start time P39 End time

original purpose of the building P302

Which purpose does the space have in the course of time?

  value list Q25458

Building relation P300

How the building is situated in its environment? It is a freestanding building or not?

values count 5 It takes single value

   value list Q618

Q31278	Terraced house
Q31279	Free standing building
Q31280	outdoor theatre
Q31281	Attached structure	Theatre structure is attached to another building
	cellar location

architectural style P184

describes the architectural style

value list Q20195

It may have many values and multiple at once are possible.

Inner features

audience arrangement P217

What shape does the auditorium have? Describes how the relation of the audience with the stage is organised.

  value list Q30792

It may takes only a single value.

Q30793	horse shoe audience arrangement
Q23289	Amphitheatre
Q3514	black box theater
Q30811	temporary space setting

stage arrangement P219

Refers to how the stage is organised

It may take only a single value.

  value list Q30804

Q23617	Arena
Q23680	Platform stage
Q30805	Proscenium stage
Q30806	temporary, movable stage
Q30807	trust stage
Q30809	Traverse stage

significant equipment P89

equipment used that was significant for the building, performance or organisation (refers to unique equipment description) this can include fly bar systems, revolves, trap systems, …

orchestra pit type P220

Refers to the type of the orchestra pit

  value list Q30799

Q30801	elevator orchestra pit
Q30802	orchestra in front of stage (baroque)
Q30803	Orchestra pit with flat floor, partly under proscenium
Q30800	Wagner orchestra pit

maximum auditorium capacity P166

The amount of seats available in the theatre. If there is a minimum and maximum capacity, add entries. If the capacity has changed over time, add [point in time] qualifier.

spatial elements present P309

It may take multiple values at once.

  value list Q31693

balconies P218

The amount of balconies

Usage

designed for P213

refers to the type of performance the building was designed for

  value list Q30787

used for P214

refers to the type of performance the building is/was used for

  value list Q30787

type of operation P301

refers to the type of performance the building is/was used for

  value list Q30787

Q31283	resident theatre company
Q31297	Municipal theatre operation
Q31284	stagiona
Q31285	Amateur theatre
Q31299	religious order theatre
Q31301	Private theare operation
	religious order theatre

Relations

Flanders Arts Institute venue ID P172

Refers to a source about this item in the Flanders Arts Institute database

EUTA building identifier P15

Refers to a source about this item in the theatre architecture database

Wikidata source P16

Refers to a source about this item in wikidata

The European Route of Historic Theatres P177

Refers to the route of historic theatres the item is part of

member Perspectiv P178

refers to the member page

Jerome table property P176

Refers to the (off-line) database of Jerome Maeckelberg / theatrEurope Only visible if logged in

archive is kept at P221

the collection where the archive is kept value is a collection

Time information

time frame P86

used to define the time frame the item is about. Specifically useful for theatres where no clear building date is known, like Greek or Roman theatres.

  value list Q30

Building date P101

The date that the building process started

Location hosted theatre P16

marks that there was a previous theatre structure before with the date when so happened. It should be complemented with P240 structure replaces assigning the previous structure.

opening date (or re-opening) P102

The date of the opening of the building, or the first performance. Can also be used for a reopening after closure or redevelopment.

restoration date P103

Starting date of a restoration process The end date is the reopening date restoration is used for restoring in the authentic condition, for updates, redevelopment or refurbishment of a building, use [redevelopment].

reconstruction date P104

Starting date of a reconstruction process Redevelopment is used for updates, changes in structure or refurbishment of a building. For restoring in the authentic condition use [restauration]

discovery date P105

The date a building or a space is rediscovered. This can apply to historic, archaeological sites, but also to theatres that were used for another purpose.

burned down date P106

date of a major fire

closure date P107

Date of a (semi)permanent closure of the building

If the theatre is destroyed, use dissolved, abolished or demolished

dissolved, abolished or demolished P108

Date of the destruction of the building

change of use P169

Date of permanent change of use of the building For example when a theatre becomes a store Add [context] qualifier to add extra information.

by P109

Qualifier referring to a person, mostly an architect Can be used for [Date of restauration], [Date of redevelopment] or [Date of (re)discovering] to state who has lead the action.

Measurements

We only include basis measurements of the theatre, for better understanding of the size, and the relations.

Measurements are taken from the centre point depending on information available. The information can depend on local definitions of center line, plaster line, iron curtain line, etc. If no centre point is defined by the local sources, the centre point is the crossing of the middle line of the stage with the line where the stage is at full height.

stage dimensions P165

This is a temporary property, used to import from sites that combine measurements in one field It is not visible for the public.

stage height P205

The measurement is preferably in m. The height is measured from the zero point to the grid

stage depth P207

The measurement is preferably in m. the measurement is taken from the zero point to the back wall.

stage opening width P208

The measurement is preferably in m. the measurement is taken on maximum opening .

stage opening height P209

The measurement is preferably in m. the measurement is taken on maximum opening .

front stage depth P210

The measurement is preferably in m. the measurement is taken , from start of stage to zero point.

stage slope in % (cm/m) P211

The measurement is preferably in cm/m.

distance to last row P212

The measurement is preferably in m. the measurement is taken , from the zero point to the last row. Add [context] qualifier to add extra information.

Media

Images P2

Image P2 
internal image P24 
         

• A reference picture of the theatre, to help users recognise the building. Several pictures can be added.
• An [image] refers to a picture in the wiki repository of images (commons.wikimedia.org) You can link by copying the name of the file from wikipedia or from the repository.
• An [Internal image] refers to a picture in our own repository. Upload the document first and copy the link here. (You have to be sure that the picture is open source.)
• In case a picture has limited use through copyright, but van be shared, add a qualifier [copyright]

Video

  Video P8 
  YouTube video P116
  Internal video P76

• Video about this specific theatre, that does not contain information about other items. (If it does contain information about other items, enter the information as a source)
• A [Video] refers to a picture in the wiki repository (commons.wikimedia.org) You can link by copying the name of the file from wikipedia or from the repository.
• A [YouTube video] refers to a video on YouTube. You can link by copying the name of the file code from the URL.
• An [Internal video] refers to a picture in our own repository. Upload the document first and copy the link here. (You have to be sure that the picture is open source.)
• In case a video has limited use through copyright, but van be shared, add a qualifier [copyright]

Geographical information

GPS P21

• Geographical coordinates of the theatre, based on google maps
• Ideally the place of the zero point is given

Country P29

• The actual country the theatre is in (now)
• (if a country does not exist yet, it needs to be created first)

      value list Q440

Adress P164

• The address of the theatre
• If the name of a street or the house number is changed over time, add a qualifier [context] and/or a qualifier [point in time] or [start time] / [end time]

Postal Code P168

The postal code of the theatre

City P68

The city where the theatre is located

Sources

Source URL P64

direct link to external web page source use only if the URL only refers to the subject

Web P182

presence of the subject on-line, by the subject if by a third party use Source URL or refer to the subject in a source

Technical fields

(these are for internal use, to support the administration or writing process.)

Status P92

Used to notify the maintainers there is issues or things to do

  value list Q607

Possible values are:

Q10	Needs verification	the information has to be checked
	Needs translation
Q537	Needs attention	(there are some issues with this item or missing information)
Q538	needs revision

Status is invisible for the public

Note (qualifier)

   • You can add details in a note about the status

Note P44

Used to make notes for yourself or for other contributors Notes are invisible for the public