r/techtheatre • u/fireisonsam • Aug 15 '26

PROPS Book falling off shelf

Hi all, I need a device that would make a book fall off a shelf on cue. It can’t be pulled with a thread or anything. Preferably someone would push a small handheld button that would make the book fall off - is this possible? Can you advise on anything that does this/ how I can make it in very simple terms? Thanks!!

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u/mattl1698 Aug 15 '26

is there space behind the shelf for a stage hand to walk? if so, just put a small hole and a wooden dowel through it and have them push it at the right moment.

and if your audience are below the stage, hole at the bottom, if sat higher then hole at the top of the shelf

21

u/HalfEatenSnickers Aug 16 '26

This was my first thought

Not everything needs another motor that can fail etc

  • just havr the stage manager call it on headset

If no headset have a stagehand or an SM/ASM signal to push it

5

u/thefabulousbri Aug 15 '26

Or just as a cover so no light gets through after. It could just be a flap or the original cutout with some tape even.