What You Need for a Student Theatre Production

Use this shopping list to prepare a student theatre performance without discovering missing supplies during the final rehearsal. It covers the practical items that are easy to overlook: cable management, spare storage media, audience signage, costume organisation and front-of-house setup. Plan quantities around your cast, crew and audience size, then check every item at least one week before opening night. Borrow or hire technical equipment where buying it would be unnecessary.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Chairsqty 140
Foldable tablesqty 8
Entrance table
Coat racksqty 2
Clothes hangersqty 140
Bollardsqty 6

Equipment

Spotlightsqty 8
Light standsqty 4
Lightboard
Mixer
Speakersqty 2
Stage lecternsqty 2
Microphonesqty 3
Microphone standsqty 3
Extension cordsqty 10
Power stripsqty 8
Gaffer tapeqty 6
Cable traysqty 12
Laptop
USB sticksqty 3

Decorations

Backdropsqty 3
Decorative panelsqty 8
Decorative clothsqty 6
Streamersqty 10
Artificial plantsqty 8
Tableclothsqty 8
Chalkboardsqty 3
Directional signsqty 8
String lightsqty 4
Sticky tackqty 6
Double-sided tapeqty 6
Scissorsqty 6
Ropeqty 3
Markersqty 12
A4 paperqty 500
Print foldersqty 6
Name badgesqty 40
Wristbandsqty 250
Pensqty 30
Tapeqty 8

Tableware

Glassesqty 160
Coffee cupsqty 80
Platesqty 160
Forksqty 160
Napkin holderqty 6
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving tongsqty 8
Coffee potsqty 4
Thermos flasksqty 6

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knifeqty 4
Bread basketsqty 6
Coolersqty 4
Ice cube traysqty 4
Foil holdersqty 2
Measuring cupsqty 2
Oven mittsqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee beans - 3 kilo
- Black tea - 200 bags
- Herbal tea - 100 bags
- Hot chocolate - 5 liters
- Semi-skimmed milk - 12 liters
- Oat milk - 6 liters
- Granulated sugar - 3 kilos
- Sweetener - 300 pieces
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Tonic - 6 bottles
- Sparkling mineral water - 12 bottles
- Still mineral water - 18 bottles
- Apple juice - 8 cartons
- Orange juice - 8 packs
- Lemons - 20 pieces
- Fresh mint - 6 bunches
- Ice cubes - 12 kilo
- Baguettes - 20 pieces
- Whole grain bread - 8 loaves
- Mini croissants - 160 pcs
- Mini chocolate croissants - 120 pieces
- Unsalted butter - 2 kilos
- Plain cream cheese - 2 kilos
- Hummus - 3 kilos
- Peanut butter - 2 jars
- Strawberry jam - 2 jars
- Cheese slices - 3 kilos
- Young cheese - 2 kilos
- Turkey breast - 2 kilos
- Cucumbers - 12 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 4 kilos
- Bell peppers - 12 pieces
- Carrots - 4 kilos
- Grapes - 6 kilos
- Apples - 100 pieces
- Bananas - 60 pieces
- Mandarins - 80 pieces
- Paprika chips - 12 bags
- Plain chips - 12 bags
- Tortilla chips - 10 bags
- Salted popcorn - 10 bags
- Sweet popcorn - 10 bags
- Mini pretzels - 8 bags
- Rice cakes - 8 packs
- Gluten-free crackers - 6 packs
- Vegan cookies - 8 packs
- Butter cookies - 10 packs
- Brownies - 120 pieces
- Mini muffins - 120 pieces
- Dark chocolate - 2 kilo
- Milk chocolate - 2 kilo
- Mixed nuts - 2 kilos
- Raisins - 1 kilo
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Balsamic vinegar - 1 bottle
- Olive oil - 2 bottles
- Salt - 1 kilo
- Black pepper - 250 grams
- Paprika powder - 250 gram
- Garlic powder - 250 grams
- Napkins - 500 pieces
- Paper cups - 300 pieces
- Paper plates - 250 pieces
- Wooden stirrers - 300 pieces
- Teaspoons - 200 pieces
- Cocktail sticks - 300 pieces
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Trash bags - 80 pcs
- Toilet paper - 48 rolls
- Hand soap - 6 bottles
- Hand sanitizer - 6 bottles
- Paper towels - 12 packs

Cleaning

All-purpose cleanerqty 4
Glass cleanerqty 2
Floor mopsqty 3
Bucketsqty 3
Microfiber clothsqty 20
Dish brushesqty 4
Washing-up bowlsqty 3
Rubber glovesqty 8
Dustpan and brushqty 3
Broomqty 2
Trash binsqty 8
Toilet brushqty 3

Tips

Allow one chair per audience member, plus 5–10% spare seating if the room permits. Keep a separate set of chairs available for cast and crew rather than moving audience seating between scenes.
For each microphone, prepare one microphone stand and at least one spare cable or adapter. Test the mixer, speakers, lightboard and laptop together during a full technical rehearsal, not on the afternoon of the show.
Buy or bring at least two rolls of gaffer tape and enough cable trays or covers for every cable crossing a walkway. Tape down loose cable runs before the audience arrives and keep extension cords away from entrances.
Prepare one entrance table, coat racks and enough clothes hangers for the expected audience, then add roughly 10% spare capacity. Directional signs and chalkboards should be placed before doors open, especially if the venue has more than one entrance.
Keep the programme files, audio clips and lighting files on two USB sticks, with one copy stored separately from the laptop. Label props, costume parts and decor panels before the final rehearsal so replacements can be found quickly.

Frequently asked questions

What equipment do I need for a student theatre performance?: For a basic production, plan for one sound system with speakers and a mixer, one lightboard, the required spotlights and stands, microphones with stands, and safe power distribution. Test and count all technical equipment at least 7 days before the first performance.
How many chairs and tables do I need for student theatre?: Provide one chair per ticketed audience member, plus 5–10% spare chairs where possible. Usually one entrance table is enough for tickets or registration, with additional foldable tables only where you need programme, catering or coat-check areas.
How much gaffer tape do I need for a theatre show?: Bring at least 2 rolls for a small student production, and more if cables cross several walkways or the stage is frequently reconfigured. Check the cable layout during the technical rehearsal, no later than 1 day before opening.
What should I prepare for the audience area?: Prepare an entrance table, programme booklets, name badges if needed, coat racks with clothes hangers, directional signs and glasses if refreshments are served. Set up the front-of-house area at least 60 minutes before doors open, leaving time to test the entrance flow.

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