Stage Rules 2024

STAGE RULES  2024

As amended 1st July 2024

All zones are earnestly requested to co-operate in maintaining order and discipline by observing the following rules.

1. ORDER OF PERFORMANCE: Order of performance will be decided by a draw of lots.

2. Expected starting time will be intimated as soon as the duration of the plays have been conveyed to the organizers. These timings are based on assumed durations of the preceding items and zones must be prepared to begin their performance up to 15 minutes earlier if called to do so.

3. Each zone shall appoint a Zonal Stage Manager who will be responsible for their own props and stage settings and arrangements of screens and see the stage is cleared, cleaned and rearranged in as little time as possible. He/she will liaison between the respective zone and the Official Stage Manager. It will be his/her responsibility to inform the announcer as to when his/her play is starting and ending. The authority of the Zonal Stage Manager ends with the finish of the Zonal Item. The Zonal Stage Manager has to be from the Zone.

4. Props and stage requirements should not be kept on the stage, in the wings or behind the back screen except with the explicit permission of the organizers.

5. Time allowed for removing sets and setting up stage between Plays is 20 minutes. Each zone will be allotted either the left or right entry/exit and under no conditions must use any other entry/exit for setting up of sets etc.

6. No noise will be permitted when setting up stage, as Musical performances will be in progress. IMMEDIATELY after each play, the respective zones will remove, from the stage, all their own stage props and other props used by them. While fixing sets etc, no hammering of nails will be permitted particularly into the stage floor.

7. A member of the performing zone or the official compere, must make the PROLOGUE ANNOUNCEMENT, if any.

8. TIME LIMIT for the Dramatic item is 35 minutes and will be taken into account from the start of the Prologue announcement, screen opening, start of music/sound effects, or narration whichever is earliest and will include all time spent in between scenes, if any, up to the close of screen or end of music/sound effects or narration whichever is last.

9. Penalty for exceeding the time limit is a deduction of TWO Points for every extra minute or part thereof for the first three minutes; thereafter FOUR points for every minute or part thereof. 

10. The MAIN CURTAIN is operated only from the lighting control booth at the rear of the auditorium. 

11. LIGHTING/SOUND All Lighting and Sound track operations will have to be made by the zone appointed persons or the auditorium personnel at the rear of the auditorium, with the assistance of the Auditorium personnel.

12. Maximum of two persons each permitted for Lights and Sound operations. These must be members of the performing zone, with assistance only from Organizer’s/Auditorium personnel.

13. If the Director of a Play does not belong to the respective Zone/Parish, he/she will be permitted to be on stage or in the control cabins during the performance, but is not permitted to operate any equipment whatsoever e.g. lighting, sound etc.

14. Infringement of this rule will be liable to disqualification from the Production Trophy and will be penalised by a deduction of upto 25% of marks scored in the Dramatics for the purpose of deciding the Overall Challenge Trophy.

15. ONE GREEN ROOM will be available to each zone five minutes after the finish of the previous dramatic item and till five minutes after finish of one’s own performance.

16. ONE CLASS ROOM will be available to each zone on the Final day of the Contest. The Zonal Captain should appoint a CLASSROOM MANAGER, who will be responsible for the use, the cleanliness and the safety of the equipment in the classroom. Use of Hair Dryers, straighteners, clothes irons and other equipment using high current is not permitted. Each zone should make arrangements for their own padlock for the door. A duplicate of the key should be handed over to the Official Stage Manager /Organisers Production-in-charge.

17. It will be the duty of the Zonal Stage Manager to keep away all unauthorised persons from the stage during the zonal performance. The Zonal Stage Manager will inform, prior to the start of the item, the help he will need from the Organisers’ appointed personnel. Organiser’s Personnel will leave the Stage ONLY on prior intimation through the Official Stage Manager. The following organisers/auditorium personnel will not leave the stage/control rooms during the performances: 1. Stage Manager, 2.Comperes, 3. Two lighting operators, electricians, 4. Two sound system operators. 5. Three General Assistants.

18. Incoming Zonal Stage Managers will be responsible to see that members of the previous performing zone carry no stage props away through oversight.

19. Any unforeseen matters arising will be left to the discretion of the Official Stage Manager.

20. Entry to the Auditorium will be allowed to all dramatics performers only during the critical appreciation and prize distribution. Captains will always remain responsible for any breach of rules or untoward action by their zonal members.

21. Any School/College property required by the Zones, for use on stage and/or any alteration to the same would need the prior written permission of the concerned authority to be submitted to the Organisers at least 8 days in advance.

22. Captains/Classroom Managers will be responsible for ensuring no damage is caused to School/College property and for maintaining strict discipline among their zonal participants. No music is permitted to be played in the rooms/greenrooms allotted to the zones.

23. Captains/Classroom Managers must ensure that all Dressing/class rooms are totally cleared of all their properties/belongings and vacant possession handed over not later than 12:00 midnight of Sunday. Any materials left over will be confiscated and the defaulting zones fined at the discretion of the organizers.

24. In all matters of the above, the decision of the organisers will be final and binding and no protests whatsoever will be entertained.

25. SNACKS, DRINKS AND SMOKING IS STRICTLY NOT PERMITTED ON STAGE (UNLESS PART OF THE PERFORMANCE!!!).These are also not permitted in the auditorium at all times during performances as well as rehearsals.

26. Glitter, Confetti (thermocol or paper), Gas balloons and any other such hazardous or explosive materials/props are strictly prohibited on stage.

27. No vulgar or revealing costumes are permitted. At all times the performers must be modestly covered. No display of undergarments or torso is permitted.  No obscene gestures, obscene lyrics or swearing are permitted. Any breach of this rule will lead to loss of marks and, depending on the severity, disqualification.