In stage rigging, what is the term for the length of pipe or bar from which scenery and lighting equipment is hung in a fly system?

• A. Batten
• B. Arbor
• C. Head block
• D. Loft block

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is the component that actually holds and carries the scenery and lighting when it’s flown. That long pipe or bar is called a batten. It’s the load-bearing element attached to the lift lines of the fly system, so crews hang ladders, lights, flats, and other equipment from it and raise or lower the whole rig as needed.

Arbors are the counterweight carriages that move along the track to raise and lower the load. The head block is the upper pulley assembly where the lift line starts its journey, guiding it from the arbor toward the loft blocks. Loft blocks are pulleys mounted above or near the grid to route the lift line and change direction. These parts are all involved in the mechanics of lifting the load, but the actual length of pipe or bar from which the gear hangs is the batten.