When audiences attend Theatre Ink’s fall play, The Crucible, they will be immersed in a chilling atmosphere, complete with witches and a threat of a “burning at the stake.” However, for the students on Theatre Ink’s stage crew, nothing is more terrifying than the risk of a faulty headlight falling onto someone’s head. Ensuring the safety of both actors and tech crew alike is a top priority of the stage crew as they work to build the spectacular sets that bring all of Theatre Ink’s productions to life.
A new policy has been implemented throughout Theatre Ink’s stage crew, requiring all students to wear hard hats when working on lighting or set building. The decision to move forward with this mandated safety measure was unanimous and led by the heads of the staging department Michael Barrigton-Haber and Jay Zawacki.
“This new policy is really just a precaution to make sure that the kids know that safety is the priority when working, we just want no accidents,” said Barrigton-Haber.
Safety is always a major factor when it comes to working behind the scenes of performances at Theatre Ink. According to Barrington-Haber, in past years students have had to wear headphones, goggles, and many more safety instruments. All of these previous precautions have set up students quite well for this new policy.
“Having these hard hats isn’t a bad thing, we are all well adjusted to safety measures so it’s really okay for me” said senior Izabella Harb, a member of the stage crew.
According to Harb, Building the hat cubby has also been an aspect of the new rule.
Students are also able to give their own hard hats personality by choosing between different colored hard hats and customizing them. The process of building their own hat cubbies and decorating them further encourages students to wear them.
Junior Apolline Naud, a member of the stage crew, said,” Of course I want safety and I understand why they are doing this but sometimes when you already have so many things to think about it’s frustrating to have another,”.
The new hard hat rule is a decision created not only to ensure students’ safety but also to help set up students for real-world situations where safety equipment is mandatory.
Many classes at North such as CTE courses are aimed towards preparing students to work in a specific field, and stage crew is not an exception.
“I know that not everyone here is going to end up working in stage management, but I think there should not be exceptions to common code depending on whether or not you plan on working in a subject in the future. It’s just good practice,” said Barrigton-Haber.
