The Deputy Stage Manager is a role which is often left unfilled on smaller shows. When a DSM is used, they do one of two jobs.

Sometimes it can be the DSM who calls the show - that is, they give the lighting operator and/or sound engineer, along with anyone else who needs them, their cues. Often, when doing this job, the DSM will be in the proj box.

The other job that the DSM can have is to organise what is going on in the wings, on the opposite side from the stage manager. In this case, it is a matter of the DSM just being second-in-command to the stage manager, and the stage manager delegating some of his job to the DSM.


If you're after any other theatre tech information, then do take a look at 'Everything you ever wanted to know about theatre tech, but were afraid to ask'

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