Flymen skills training for theatre

Stage Crew understands the value of investing in skills, training and refreshers for their local crew and riggers. A fledgling flyteam attended a Flying Awareness course at the Mill Theatre in April. Under the auspices of Production Services Ireland, instructor Dave Stuttard ran the crew through the rudimentaries of pulleys, blocks, sheaves and mechanical advantage. Scenery can weigh over a tonne and be flown in at speeds of 30 miles an hour. The precision of a master flyman is considered an art form.
As well as providing great visuals for our photographer, it was a fascinating introduction to this noble craft. Historically off-duty sailors commanded the ropes of early fly systems, communicating in loud pitched whistles. Whistling was disallowed in the theatres lest it was interpreted as a fly command. Thus whistling is still considered bad luck today; mostly because it is annoying.