Decorwissels

Decorwissels are changes of scenery performed during a theatre production to shift between settings. The term is Dutch, from decor (scene) and wissel (change). In theatre practice, decorwissels coordinate the movement, staging, and timing of set pieces, including backdrops, flats, platforms, and props, to preserve illusion while minimizing downtime.

Techniques and equipment: Common methods include a fly system for overhead scenery, wheeled wagons on tracks, and manual or motorized platforms. Flats, drops, and props are swapped by stagehands or automated rigs. Modern theatres increasingly use programmable rigging and computer controls to assist with changes, reducing physical handling and increasing precision.

History and usage: The practice dates to early European stages, where quick swaps were done between acts. In Dutch and wider European theatre, decorwissels evolved from simple prop exchanges to coordinated, multi-piece set changes driven by mechanical systems. The 19th and 20th centuries saw counterweight fly systems and standardized pieces become common, enabling faster and safer transitions. Today, decorwissels are planned in technical drawings and cue documents and rehearsed during technical rehearsals to synchronize with lighting, sound, and acting.

Impact: Decorwissels are central to stagecraft, affecting pacing, safety, and production design; well-executed changes remain largely invisible to audiences.

See also: stagecraft, set design, fly system.