Technical Design Solutions for Theatre

Lightweight Acting Cubes

Fritz Schwentker

Although adults take the portability of modular set pieces, often known as “acting cubes,” for granted, small children would be hard pressed to maneuver a 15″ cube of standard ¾″ plywood construction. The Seattle Children’s Theater designed a lightweight solution to this problem for the youngest student actors to use in their summer instructional program. A thin plywood shell with a minimal pine frame served to reduce weight, and beadboard supplied intermediate support inside the cubes. The combination of strength and portability was soon appreciated by the adults as well as the kids who used the cubes.

FIGURE 1: CUTAWAY OF 15″ ACTING CUBE (TOP NOT SHOWN)

The cutaway view in Figure 1 shows the construction ...