Five laboratory exercises with rope block and tackle

Aims

After the exercises, students will understand how blocks and ropes can be used to:

• gain lifting power
• gain lifting height
• create speed
• move objects
• create a change of direction.

Key Information

Number of learners	Between 4 and 8 in each group. Several groups can do the exercises in parallel, if enough equipment is available.
Number of staff	1 teacher
ECTS Credits (if applicable)	Not applicable

Learning process

	Lecture/seminar	Lecture, presentation, discussion (face-to-face or online)
X	Making project	Making a model, mock-up, plan or design (physical or digital)
X	Performance project	Making a performance or demonstration (live or mediated)
	Records and Archives	Interviews, photographs and videos of artefacts, annotating archives, creating learning materials (physical or digital)
	Independent study	Reading, researching, analysing and evaluating learning materials (physical or digital) in groups or alone

Type of learner

X	Student of technical theatre
X	Student of theatre design, architecture
	Student of theatre arts
X	Professional
	Researcher
	General public

What You Will Need

Duration and schedule

Preparation by the teacher: 2-4 hours preparing equipment and materials

Preparation by the students: None

The workshop: 1 day of 6 working hours. Less if students already have knot-tying skills.

Room or type of space

Classroom, studio theatre, workshop, or other space where loads can be suspended. If you don’t have a suitable space, see the ‘Tips’ section below for how to work at model scale.

Equipment

• 2 ropes 4-5 mm each 15 metres long
• 2 lengths of 4-5 mm rope, 10 metres each
• 2 lengths of 4-5 mm rope, 5 metres each
• 4 single blocks for 5 mm ropes
• 2 double blocks for 5 mm ropes
• 4 shackles and/or
• 6 straps
• 2 fabric bags (able to hold at least 10 kg each)
• 7 1.5-litre soft drink bottles with cap
• 4 hanging scales for 0-25 kg (the type that can weigh a suspended load, e.g. for luggage)
• 1 roll of gaffer tape
• 1 tape measure (centimetre scale)

The soft drink bottles are filled with water to act as counterweights during the laboratory sessions. A 1.5 litre bottle weighs 1.5 kg.

Materials (consumables)

None

Learning resources (books, websites)

Canonbase articles:

• B.01 Deus Ex Machina
• A.04 The Transforming Stage

Other sources:

Jay O. Glerum, Stage Rigging Handbook, Southern Illinois University Press, 3rd edition 2007

R. W. Boychuk, Nobody Looks Up: The history of the counterweight rigging system 1500-1925, Grid Well Press, 2015

Process

Preparation

Preparation by the teacher:

• collect equipment and materials • prepare a short presentation on the historical use of rope-operated stage mechanics and pulley systems in theatres • prepare a safety briefing - see the safety notice below

All of the exercises can be carried out in a classroom, provided that there are fixing points in the ceiling for the blocks. The attachment point should be able to support about 10 kg. If this cannot be guaranteed, another room should be used.

Always consult with the venue manager when choosing a venue for the exercises.

Credits

This learning method was made by:	XXX
Institution:	XXX
Thanks to:	XXX