ˈscene-shifter
One who shifts and arranges the scenes during the performance of a play.
1752 Johnson Adventurer No. 3 ¶9 Half a dozen scene-shifters. 1760–2 Goldsm. Cit. W. xcvii, The scene-shifter's whistle. 1887 ‘Edna Lyall’ Knt.-Errant (1889) 144 Behind the scenes the very scene-shifters and carpenters were eager to congratulate him. 1908 [see , legit]. 1957 L. Durrell Justine ii. 102 Quick as a scene-shifter the station packs away advertisement after advertisement. 1978 Lancashire Life Apr. 35/3 A saviour came in the shape of little Alfie Gee—part-time electrician and scene-shifter... ‘Shuffle off the stage sideways,’ he whispered, ‘and don't drop it, man.’ |
fig. 1903 Ld. R. Gower Rec. & Remin. 92 When once the Great Scene-Shifter has made his final call, which none can disobey. |
So
ˈscene-shifting vbl. n.1818 Lady Morgan Autobiog. (1859) 212 The..mechanical aids of science and scene-shifting. 1882 Macm. Mag. XLVI. 330/2 The unwonted silence of the scene-shifting. |