Régisses

Régisses is a plural noun in French that historically refers to women who perform the régie, the stage management functions in a theatre or film production. The form is largely archaic or regional, and in contemporary usage the standard feminine term for the profession is régisseuse, while the masculine form is régisseur. As such, régisses appears mainly in older manuals, scripts, or regional texts as a historical or stylistic variant.

The régie covers the coordination and execution of a production’s technical and logistical elements. A régisse or régisseuse calls cues for lighting, sound, and scenery changes; communicates with the director, designers, and performers; supervises backstage operations during rehearsals and performances; and ensures timing, safety, and smooth operation of the show. In some contexts, régie can also refer to the broader department responsible for these tasks, i.e., the régie department.

In cinema and television, the term régie denotes the production management functions that support on-set operations, scheduling, and coordination among departments; however, in modern French, régisseur and régisseuse are the more common job titles.

Etymology: derived from régie, from Latin regere “to govern.” Geographic usage: chiefly in French-speaking theatres and historical texts, with regional retention in certain communities. See also régie, régisseur, régisseuse.