5 Affordable Set Pieces for Theater Departments
Welcome! If you’ve arrived at my blog because you are building a theater program in your school, I’m glad you did so. Today, let’s talk about 5 affordable set pieces for theater departments.
Oh, gosh, I’ve been there. Infact, I’ve created several programs for schools and community theaters in Colorado and Missouri. Check my resume here if you’d like more information about me: Teaching Resume. Starting a drama program is exciting—but it can also feel overwhelming when budgets are small and storage space is limited. The good news? You don’t need elaborate sets or expensive rentals to create engaging productions. With just a handful of versatile set pieces, you can stage nearly any play, rehearse effectively, and stretch your students’ creativity.
Here are five must-have set pieces every beginning drama department can afford, build themselves, and use in countless ways. Plus, I’ve included a bonus piece borrowed from the ancient Greeks. I’ve built every one of these set pieces several times, so you know I think they are essential.
5 Affordable Set Pieces for Theater Departments
1. Rehearsal Boxes (Stage Cubes)
- Why: The ultimate multitaskers. Rehearsal cubes can become chairs, tables, steps, beds, or thrones—and they’re indispensable for rehearsals.
- DIY Factor: Build from plywood or MDF, paint them black for neutral use, and stack for multiple levels.
- Uses: Furniture, platforms, or even makeshift scenery.
Here’s a Youtube video that demonstrates how to build these gems: Learn to Build Actor Boxes
2. Folding Flats (Walls That Go Anywhere)
- Why: A basic flat is the backbone of any set. Just a couple can suggest endless locations.
- DIY Factor: Create wooden frames covered with muslin or luan. Add hinges so they fold flat for storage.
- Uses: Interior or exterior walls, doorways, murals, or projection screens.
These flats are made of wood. Usually, mine are covered with muslin just like we’ve used for many years. If you want to learn how to build a flat, go to: Stage Flat
Credit: https://buildersvilla.com
3. Platforms (Add Instant Levels)
- Why: Theater becomes more dynamic when actors are on different heights. Platforms give depth and variety to any scene.
- DIY Factor: Build 4×4 or 4×8 framed platforms topped with plywood. Keep them modular so you can reconfigure as needed.
- Uses: Stairs, balconies, podiums, risers, or stages-within-a-stage.
4. Freestanding Door Frame
- Why: Nothing transforms a bare stage like an entrance. A door instantly suggests place and purpose.
- DIY Factor: Build a sturdy wooden frame and mount a lightweight door. Keep it neutral so it fits multiple shows.
- Uses:Entrances/exits for comedies, farces, haunted houses, or realistic dramas.
Doors and door frames are gold. They do have go be built correctly, however. If they are not, they will always be an issue for you. If I was going to pay anyone to build something for me, I’d have someone built door frames and hang doors form.
Versatile Set Pieces: Tables and Chairs for Any Scene
5. Basic Table and Chairs
-
Why: The simplest set pieces are also the most used. A table and chairs can set dozens of scenes.
-
DIY Factor: Thrift store finds work beautifully. Refinish or paint them for versatility.
-
Uses: Dining rooms, courtrooms, offices, cafés, classrooms—the possibilities are endless.
During certain points in my career, I had access to a six feet long wooden table and bentwood chairs. These are priceless! You can use them in many ways whether for a dining room scene such as in The Miracle Worker, or the kitchen table in the annex of The Diary of Anne Frank. Additionally you can use the chairs by themselves for two person scenes, etc.
Credit: //hstech.org
Bonus: Periaktoi (The Ancient Secret Weapon)
- Why: Straight from ancient Greek theater, a periaktos is a three-sided flat mounted on a pivot. Spin it, and the scenery changes instantly! Perfect for schools with limited time and budgets.
- DIY Factor:Construct tall triangular prisms with lightweight lumber and luan. Paint each side with a different setting—brick, sky, wallpaper, forest, etc.
- Uses:Rotate between three locations in seconds. Ideal for one-acts, student-designed shows, or productions with quick transitions.
Whenever I begin a drama program or summer camp for someone, we always build periaktois. Most theater groups are unfamiliar with them and they various uses. They take time to build but are worth their weight in gold. You can’t go wrong with them!
What if I have no carpentry skills and neither do my students?
Sometimes a teacher has the skills to build their own set. In my case, my wonderful husband builds them for me. However, sometimes he was unavailable to build, so, I’ve put a word out to parents volunteers to help build our sets. Usually, a group of fathers (and even grandfathers) would show up on a Saturday morning, I’d feed them donuts (that made them smile) and they’d build what I needed. You can do that, too!
Another way to design the set is by the use of fabric. When I directed The Giver at the Fine Arts Guild of the Rockies, I hung various colors of gray fabric from the battens. It was a super way to pull the focus to the center and give mood. Check out this blog post if you’d like to know about producing The Giver: The Reasons I Love The Giver Play
Teacher Benefits
Here’s some advice: You simply must defend your program and its need for funds. Consequently, you should have a meeting with your administration and department chair. If you’d like, use this blog post to defend your needs.
- Saves Money: Build once, reuse for years.
- Encourages Creativity:Students learn to think outside the box when transforming simple pieces into new settings.
- Teachable Moments: Building these pieces doubles as a tech theater lesson.
- Space Friendly: Most pieces stack or fold for easy storage.
- Endlessly Versatile:From Shakespeare to contemporary plays, these pieces adapt to any production.
Last thoughts
To be honest, I think it’s a good thing for our students to see you being creative with what you have in your stock. Too many times we are a throw away society–but by using these materials over and over in various configures, you are teaching them to be inventive and clever.
Lastly, you don’t need a giant scene shop or a massive budget to produce creative, polished shows. Start with these 5 affordable set pieces for theater departments—rehearsal boxes, flats, platforms, a door, and furniture—and add periaktoi for a touch of theatrical magic. With just these few items, your drama department can bring almost any story to life.
Want more budget-friendly tips for building your drama program? Join my newsletter for free resources, classroom-tested ideas, and exclusive discounts. This one is a free lesson about Audra McDonald!
If you are looking for set design units, check out: Set Design High School and Set Design Middle School.
Click here: We’re Live! Radio Theater #101
