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THEATRICAL KNOTS
Technical Theatre Worksheet

Write all of the knots that you know how to tie in this box.

1 BOWLINE KNOT.
THE prime theatre knot. Tied properly it WILL NOT slip. If you remember only one knot, this is it. It is
used to tie a fixed loop in the end of a rope. Riggers use it on a rigging line to send equipment into the air.
Electricians use it to send instruments up to the beams on a rope. It can make a non-slip loop around an
object, or if tied back around the rope like a lasso, will tighten down on the object.
 2 CLOVE HITCH
A Clove Hitch is used to tie a rope to a batten or post. It is usually finished with a half-hitch stopper back
around the standing line to prevent slippage, as a safety. If you learn only two knots, the bowline is the
first, and this is probably the second.

3 TIE LINE KNOT/LARKS HEAD

Tie-line Knot or Larks head is used to attach a tie-lines to the grommets of a curtain or drop so it can be
tied to a batten.

2
 4 SQUARE KNOT
The Square Knot a binding knot used to tie a rope around something to secure it. It can also be used to
tie two identical ropes together, but the MUST be of the same size, material, age, and condition, or the
knot WILL slip.

5 TWO HALF HITCHES

Two Half-hitches are also used to tie a rope to a batten or post, but by itself it not as strong as a clove
hitch. However, if the rope is passed around the bar two or three times and then secured with two half
hitches, it will be very strong. This method is especially useful for dead-hanging something directly from
an overhead support.

6 TRUCKERS HITCH
The trucker's hitch is a compound knot commonly used for securing loads on trucks or trailers. In
theatrical settings, we can see this is a crude substitute for a pulley system. This knot creates a 2:1
mechanical advantage when executed properly.