Soil onstage

[Sitbon]

Hi all. I'm designing a set for a play with a surreal bent and thinking about using soil onstage over lino.

• What types of soil can be used?
• What are the risks? Can it be treated? Does it need to be?
• What other materials can be used on stage to suggest soil/earth? I was told rubber tyres can be made into small pellets which look like soil from a distance, however no idea where to start with this one.

Thanks

Andrew
Wix.com Theatre Director - Designer created by andrewmcmillan based on Classic Portfolio | Wix.com

 

[BillConnerFASTC]

Floors rotting, insect infestations, and a really lot of weight collapsing stage floors are all considerations which have led to unfortunate consequences in some cases. KA buses ground cork as I recall - but that's more of a sandy beach quality than a yard or garden look.

 

[zmb]

• What other materials can be used on stage to suggest soil/earth? I was told rubber tyres can be made into small pellets which look like soil from a distance, however no idea where to start with this one.

Cryogenically frozen and crushed tyres are regularly recycled to make the filling and cushioning material in artificial turf in sport fields. I can't quickly find a link to where you could just buy bags of it, but in the US there are many companies using it.

 

[Sayen]

The crushed rubber might be up there with glitter or confetti - not sure you'll ever get it all cleaned up.

How much dirt are you talking? The whole stage?