How To Set-Up a Small Outdoor Stage Design: 10 Spectacular Ways

If you’re planning a small outdoor performance, how can you bring the actors and actresses right into the audience? The most effective way is using a small outdoor stage design.

Small outdoor stage design doesn’t have to be boring and simple. You can create a stunning setting for your production with a little attention to detail.

Just because it’s not as large or elaborate as indoor theaters doesn’t mean that there isn’t great potential for a small outdoor stage.

Be creative with your planning. A small outdoor stage design could be simple as some wooden boxes and barrels. Or as complex as a natural hillside with greenery and vines to cover its artificial nature.

Regardless of how big or small your budget is, there are plenty of ways to design an organic performance area that works for your needs. Let’s take a look at some of the best small outdoor stage design within your budget:

Why a Small Outdoor Stage?

Even when doing small-scale production, it doesn’t mean you have to do without an outdoor stage. It is difficult to bring the entire production indoors due to space constraints, weather considerations and event logistics.

There are many great reasons to create a small outdoor stage design, even when you don’t plan to use it regularly.

It provides a unique, one-of-a-kind setting that indoor venues just can’t match.
It helps you stand out from other productions in the area.

It brings the audience closer to the actors. One can create custom-made designs for outdoor venues.
Your outdoor stage doesn’t have to be built to the same strict standards as indoor theaters.
It can be a bit more flexible. It makes it easier to create interesting, unique designs that are perfectly suited to your production.

What Does A Small Outdoor Theater Look Like?

Depending on your budget and the level of design you want to achieve, a small outdoor theater can look a variety of ways. There’s no one set design that applies to all outdoor venues.

The common elements used in small outdoor stages: –

A natural-looking background – Whether you use a natural hillside, grassy plains or a forested area, the background of your outdoor stage will have a huge impact on the entire design.

A wooden stage – Wooden stages are common due to their flexibility and relatively low cost.

Wooden seating – Wooden seating is also common, especially when the venue is located in a forest or other natural setting.

What to Use in Setting-Up a Small Outdoor Stage Design

1. Wood: The Best Option For Your Budget

When you’re building a small outdoor stage, you don’t have to use only expensive materials. Use wood to create a stunning, organic-looking background with very little money.

Many small outdoor performance venues use wooden pallets to create a unique, rustic look.

Using Wooden Boxes

Building wooden boxes is another affordable option. You can use these materials to build the stage ground, seating and anything else you need.

Wooden boxes create a rustic, organic feel to enhance your performance. Stack the boxes in any way you want.

Whether it’s a single row or multiple rows of boxes. Wooden boxes are also easy to build and transport.

This makes them a great option for any small outdoor performance venue.

Using Pallets

While pallets can be beautiful, they can also be a bit more rustic. Depending on how you want to use them, sand and finish them to make them more visually appealing. Wooden boxes can be finished with paint, stain or any other material to suit your needs.

2. Brick: Another Great Option for Your Small Outdoor Stage Design

If you have the budget for it, brick is an excellent choice for your small outdoor stage. It’s durable, long-lasting and creates a stunning, high-end look that’s perfect for professional productions.

Using brick is a great choice for any outdoor venue that is located near water. The water won’t affect the bricks, In addition to keeping the stage’s foundation stable.

Brick isn’t cheap, and it can be difficult to find the right bricks for your needs.

Research the bricks thoroughly to ensure that they’ll be suitable for the job. There are many different types of bricks and they don’t all have the same qualities. You should check the bricks’ water resistance, weight and durability.

Different Brick Types for Small Outdoor Stage Design

Blackson Brick Co describes various brick types that include sun-dried, burnt bricks, concrete and lime bricks.

Sun-dried bricks are unburnt and could be the best choice for small outdoor stage design that are temporary. They are just for decorative purposes

3. Concrete: A Durable, Long-Lasting Option

Concrete is another long-lasting, durable option, making it a great choice for large outdoor events. There are many different types of concrete for small outdoor stages, including stamped, coloured and textured concrete.

Colored concrete for small outdoor stage design

It is very popular and a great option for any large-scale outdoor event, especially in wet areas or near water.

Colored concrete is porous, meaning it will repel water instead of absorbing it. This makes it perfect for small outdoor stage designs in wet environments.

It’s easy to work with and can be dyed any colour you want. Concrete is a durable material that can be used for many different purposes. Including seating and stages.

Textured Concrete for small outdoor stage design

If you’re looking for something a bit different, use stamped concrete for your small outdoor stage.

Stamped concrete for small outdoor stage design

It is a pattern on top of the concrete, making it visually appealing. It’s a bit more expensive than regular concrete, but it’s worth it if you want something unique.

4. Artificial Grass: An Eco-Friendly And Cost-effective Choice!

Artificial grass is a great material for small outdoor stages. It’s flexible and easy to work with. Making it a great option for any outdoor performance venue.

It’s also eco-friendly and cost-effective, making it a great choice for any budget. It’s also very easy to install.

Artificial grass is perfect for outdoor performance venues because it resists water. So it won’t be damaged by rain or humidity.

It’s easy to clean, making it easy to prepare for each new performance. You can use a broom or a leaf blower to clean the grass and make it look like new again. It’s also easy to transport, making it a great choice for outdoor venues.

How to Set-Up a Small Outdoor Stage Design

1. Decorate With Natural Elements

When designing your small outdoor stage, don’t forget to decorate with natural elements. These can greatly enhance the aesthetic of your small outdoor stage.

Creating a beautiful and organic-looking setting. Plant vines along wooden backgrounds and walls to create a stunning visual effect.

You can also plant small trees and shrubs around wooden seating. These will give your venue a natural, organic look.

They’re also easy to maintain, hence great for small outdoor events. Also use flowers and other plants to add colour to your small outdoor stage.

2. Build A Small Set Around an Organic Element

If you want to build a small outdoor stage, you don’t have to create a full set. You can create a smaller set around an organic element.

For example, you can build around a tree or a wooden structure. This creates a natural background while also allowing you to build a smaller set.

You can use vines and greenery to hide any artificial elements, creating a stunning visual effect.

3. Use Light and Color to Create Atmosphere

You can use lighting and colour to create a certain atmosphere on your small outdoor stage. It helps to enhance the mood of your performance.

You can use colored lights to help create a warm, relaxing atmosphere. You can also use white lights to create a neutral atmosphere.

Or, you can use red lights for a romantic setting. You can also use lights to highlight certain elements on your stage, such as vines and greenery.

4. Use Rotating Elements for Small Outdoor Stages

You can also use rotating elements on your small outdoor stage design. This enhances the experience for your audience.

It creates a unique, one-of-a-kind setting that indoor venues just can’t match. You can use rotating walls, rotating floors or other rotating elements.

Use these rotating elements for different scenes and to add variety to your performance.

5. Add a sensory element

If your outdoor theater design includes a special space that inspires reflection, you’ll have an added layer of beauty and meaning to your space.

What sensory element can you add to your outdoor stage design that fits with your vision?

Perhaps you’d like to add a small garden, an indoor-outdoor fireplace, or a special water feature. It adds an environmental and cultural element.

What can you do to make your outdoor space unique?

There are so many options when it comes to adding a sensory element to your outdoor theater design. Choose something that resonates with your guests and makes this outdoor space even more special.

6. Install an LED floor

If you want to add a visual element to your outdoor stage design, installing an LED floor is a great option. Imagine how stunning your outdoor space would look with a colorful, multicolored floor.

You can use the LED floor in a variety of ways. From creating a visual experience to highlighting areas of importance to your guests.

What will your LED floor look like?

If you’re planning on installing an LED floor, get creative. Also select a color palette that matches your intended ambiance.

What does the LED floor add to your outdoor theater design?

By installing an LED floor, you’ll create a mesmerizing experience for your guests that they’ll never forget.

And you can use it in a variety of ways, from: – creating a visual experience to highlighting areas of importance to your guests. The LED floor is a fantastic choice for outdoor spaces of all sizes.

7. Go vertical with a climbing wall

If you want to create an outdoor space that is both functional and stunning, a climbing wall is a great option.

Imagine inviting your guests to climb a towering climbing wall.

Where do you even start with a climbing wall?

The first step is deciding what type of climbing wall you want to install. There are a variety of climbing wall types to choose from. They include

Freestanding climbing walls,
Climbing walls that are part of a unit,
Climbing walls that are integrated into a structure.

What does a climbing wall add to your outdoor theater design?

A climbing wall is a fantastic choice for outdoor spaces that are adjacent to a great room. If your outdoor theater design is adjacent to a great room, a climbing wall is a great addition to be used often by your guests.

8. Include a water feature

If you’d like to add an environmental and cultural element to your outdoor stage design, a water feature is a great option.

What type of water feature should you include in your outdoor theater design?

There are a variety of water features to choose from, including fountains, cascading waterfalls, and ponds.

What does a water feature add to your outdoor theater design?

A water feature is a fantastic choice for outdoor spaces that need a bit of refreshing. It offers an aesthetic refresh for your outdoor theater design.

This makes water feature an easy and effective solution. You can also add a water feature indoors if looking to create a soothing ambiance in your indoor space.

9. Incorporate movable seating

If you’re looking to create a flexible outdoor theater design that can be used year-round, movable seating is a great solution.

What type of seating is best for your outdoor theater design?

There are a variety of seating types to choose from, including lounge chairs, couches, and traditional stools.

What does movable seating add to your outdoor theater design?

Movable seating is a fantastic choice for any outdoor space. You can easily rearrange the seating to suit different uses and create a completely different look and feel.

What can you do to make your outdoor space more flexible?

If you add movable seating, you can easily rearrange the seating to suit different uses and create a completely different look and feel. You can even create a completely different look and feel each season as the seasons change.

10. Turn your stage into a garden oasis

If you want to create a stunning outdoor theater design that has a dual purpose, a garden oasis is a great option.

What type of plants and flowers should you include in your outdoor stage design?

There are a variety of plant types to choose from, including annuals and perennials, bulbs, and trees. A garden oasis is a fantastic choice for outdoor spaces that need a bit of refreshing.

If you’re looking for an aesthetic refresh for your outdoor theater design, a garden oasis is an easy and effective solution.

You can easily create a stunning outdoor stage design that has a dual purpose by creating a garden oasis in your outdoor space. A garden oasis is a great choice for any type of outdoor space, big or small.

Factors to Consider for Small Outdoor Stage Design

1. Audience Size

If you have a small stage for a bigger audience, Melissa Kirby of Event Creative advices the need to maintain large stage elements. However, when working with a small stage for small audience, the main focus should be on propping.

Wikipedia defines propping as a theatrical property used on stage by actors during acting and production. It is movable and portable, distinct from the actors, costumes, electrical equipment and scenery.

Therefore, when the stage is limited ensure, propping is not affected.

2. Widen the Set with Low ceilings

If there is no more space upwards, then go wide.

Kirby from Event Creatives explains

“Make an impact by extending the set out to the sides,” Kirby says. “Or, bring in additional [decor] elements throughout the room to make the stage feel bigger than it is.”
Event Creative

3. Always be Mindful of Space

Stault productions appreciate that small stages could provide a huge food print, because of the backline support equipment. Therefore, the solution is placing a stage in a corner, or against a wall. This reduces the space used for an entire set up.

Avoid Heavy Lighting Fixtures

Use lightweight LED equipment to have a huge impact around limited space. They allow to develop abstract looks and are lighter. They avoid use of overhead truss.

Raise the Stage

4. Raise the small stages to about 24 inches

PRO TIP: Use small line array equipment to save space. Put them directly on the downstage edge and off the floor.

5. Use Preexisting Backdrops

Always strive at placing a small stage in front of preexisting video walls. Or in some instances, other visually heavy elements within the small event space.

Cover the entire small outdoor stage design

Cover the stage and ensure it matches the design and event theme. Here you’re safe avoiding rental decks. Go for the low-pile carpet to offer a greater aesthetic and fresh new look. Add Duvateen fabric, stapled directly onto the decks.

Conclusion

A stunning outdoor stage design is the perfect way to bring your guests together and create a memorable event. If you’re looking to create a stunning outdoor theater design, there are plenty of options to choose from.

From an LED floor to a climbing wall, there are many ways to add functionality and beauty to your outdoor space.

Especially when limited on space, there are plenty of ideas for a small outdoor stage design, too! Whether you add a sensory element, or go vertical with a climbing wall.

Include a water feature, or turn your stage into a garden oasis. You’ll create a beautiful outdoor stage design that your guests will love.