What you need for a street theatre festival
A street theatre festival needs more than props and performers. You will need practical equipment for several play locations, a clear route, audience comfort and safe cable runs. This shopping list covers the items people often remember too late: shade, barriers, power banks, lighting and printed programmes. Use the number of performance areas, volunteers and expected visitors to adjust the quantities before shopping.
What to bring
Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.
Furniture
- Foldable tablesqty 10
- Folding chairsqty 80
- Party tentsqty 3
- Parasolsqty 6
- High tablesqty 8
- Bar stoolsqty 12
Equipment
- Battery-powered speakersqty 4
- Wireless microphonesqty 4
- Mixer
- Microphone standsqty 4
- Extension cordsqty 8
- Cable reelsqty 4
- Cable matsqty 12
- Rechargeable work lightsqty 6
- Power banksqty 6
- Crowd barriersqty 30
- Barrier tapeqty 8
- Traffic conesqty 20
- Sandbagsqty 20
- Hand trucksqty 3
- Clipboardsqty 8
- Walkie-talkiesqty 8
- Charging station
- First aid kitsqty 2
- Flashlightsqty 6
- Rain ponchosqty 20
- Umbrellasqty 10
Lighting
- LED string lightsqty 8
- LED spotlightsqty 6
- Battery lanternsqty 10
Decorations
- Buntingqty 12
- Colorful clothsqty 10
- Paper flowersqty 40
- Balloonsqty 100
- Balloon weightsqty 12
- Decorative chalkboardsqty 8
- Chalk markersqty 12
- Cable tiesqty 200
- Gaffer tapeqty 8
Tableware
- Reusable drinking glassesqty 200
- Coffee cupsqty 150
- Platesqty 150
- Forksqty 150
- Knivesqty 150
- Spoonsqty 150
- Serving plattersqty 12
- Serving tongsqty 8
Kitchen
- Coolersqty 6
- Thermos flasksqty 6
- Kettlesqty 3
- Coffee machinesqty 2
- Cutting boardsqty 4
- Bread knivesqty 4
- Ice packsqty 30
- Bottle openersqty 6
Cleaning
- Waste binsqty 12
- Dustpan and brushqty 4
- Broom setsqty 4
- Mopsqty 4
- Bucketsqty 6
- Cleaning clothsqty 30
- Rubber glovesqty 12
- Paper towel rollsqty 12
- Hand sanitizerqty 8
Catering
- Groceries
- Spa Blauw - 120 bottles
- Spa Red - 48 bottles
- Cola - 24 bottles
- Coke Zero - 24 bottles
- Sinas - 18 bottles
- Ice tea - 18 bottles
- Apple juice - 12 cartons
- Orange juice - 12 cartons
- Beer - 120 cans
- Non-alcoholic beer - 48 cans
- White wine - 12 bottles
- Red wine - 6 bottles
- Coffee - 8 packs
- Tea - 4 boxes
- Herbal tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 3 kilos
- Milk - 12 liters
- Oat milk - 6 liters
- Lemons - 3 kilos
- Ice cubes - 20 kilo
- Baguettes - 25 pieces
- Mini rolls - 150 pieces
- Mini croissants - 100 pieces
- Hummus - 12 tubs
- Cream cheese - 8 tubs
- Young cheese - 6 kilo
- Aged cheese - 4 kilos
- Ham - 3 kilos
- Chicken breast - 3 kilo
- Cucumbers - 20 pieces
- Tomatoes - 5 kilos
- Arugula - 10 bags
- Paprika chips - 12 bags
- Plain chips - 12 bags
- Tortilla chips - 10 bags
- Salted pretzels - 8 bags
- Mixed nuts - 6 bags
- Olives - 8 jars
- Grapes - 8 kilos
- Apples - 80 pieces
- Bananas - 50 pieces
- Mandarins - 60 pieces
- Cookies - 12 packs
- Brownies - 100 pieces
- Mini muffins - 100 pieces
- Mayonnaise - 4 bottles
- Ketchup - 4 bottles
- Mustard - 3 bottles
- Olive oil - 2 liters
- Salt - 1 kilo
- Pepper - 500 grams
- Paprika powder - 250 gram
- Garlic powder - 250 grams
- Napkins - 1000 pieces
- Coffee filters - 2 boxes
- Cocktail picks - 500 pieces
- Plastic wrap - 4 rolls
- Aluminum foil - 4 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Trash bags - 150 pieces
- Pedal bin liners - 100 pieces
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Toilet paper - 48 rolls
- Dish soap - 4 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 4 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 2 bottles
- Disinfectant spray - 4 bottles
- Trash can labels - 30 pieces
- Nitrile gloves - 4 boxes
- Bandages - 4 boxes
- Sterile gauze pads - 4 packs
- Bandages - 4 pieces
- Fever thermometers - 2 pieces
- AA batteries - 24 pieces
- AAA batteries - 24 pieces
- Pens - 30 pieces
- Notepads - 10 pieces
Tips
- Plan one audience seating area per main performance location. Start with enough folding chairs for older visitors and people who cannot stand for a full performance, then add high tables or standing space where the crowd flow allows it.
- Allow at least one extension cord or cable reel for each powered area, plus cable mats wherever cables cross a walking route. Add gaffer tape and cable ties before setup day; these are easy to forget and difficult to replace during a festival.
- Prepare a separate battery-powered speaker or power bank for locations without a reliable outlet. Charge rechargeable work lights, battery lanterns, speakers and microphones fully on the day before the festival.
- Use crowd barriers, barrier tape and traffic cones at route crossings, performer access points and any area where equipment must stay clear. Count each crossing separately instead of assuming one barrier line will cover the whole route.
- Buy drinks only after confirming registrations and dietary requirements. Chill the first service in advance, keep backup stock sealed, and allow two to three drinks per person for the first hour when you do not have a more precise consumption estimate. Watch the weather forecast before buying extra tents, parasols or decorations.
Frequently asked questions
- What equipment do I need for a street theatre festival?
- Plan for seating and shelter, sound equipment, lighting, power distribution, printed programmes and crowd-control equipment. For each powered performance area, allow at least one suitable cable route with cable mats and a backup power bank or battery-powered speaker.
- How many drinks should I buy for a street theatre festival?
- Use confirmed registrations and volunteer numbers as your base. If no consumption figure is available, budget two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then add stock for the remaining programme and keep a small sealed reserve.
- How early should I print street theatre festival programmes?
- Have the programme brochures printed several days before the festival, not on the morning itself. Keep a final proof deadline at least one week before printing so performer changes, locations and route details can be checked.
- How many chairs and tables do I need for a street theatre festival?
- Count the main performance locations separately and decide how many visitors should sit at each one. Provide chairs for people who need them, then use folding tables, high tables or standing areas to avoid blocking the route between performances.
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