Shotimer
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Use cases Theatre and performances

Theatre and performances

A theatre timer for curtain up, intervals and backstage calls

Count down to curtain up and the end of the interval on screens in the wings, the green room and front of house. Send silent calls to the cast, and keep the whole performance on time from the prompt desk.

Create a free account See how it works

Free plan: 3 rooms, 3 timers and 3 screens per room. No card needed.

Count down to curtain up and the end of the interval

Put the countdown on screens in the wings, the green room and front of house, so the cast and crew all work to the same clock.

  • Finish on time: enter the time a countdown should end, such as 19:30, and Shotimer works out the duration.
  • Interval countdown: start the interval timer as the house lights come up.
  • Starts by itself: give a timer a start time while the Controller is open.
A backstage screen showing the Interval countdown, with the call Beginners to the stage, please below it.

Silent calls to the green room

Send calls to every backstage screen at once, without a word over the show relay.

  • Your own calls: such as “Beginners to the stage, please”, saved so you can send them again each night.
  • Message on its own: show the call without the timer, as large as possible.
  • Flash to get attention: a message can flash three times when it appears, then stay steady.
The Shotimer Controller with House opens, Act One and Interval in the running order.

Run from the prompt desk, or a phone in the wings

The stage manager can run the timer from a laptop at the desk, a tablet or a phone.

  • Blackout: turn every screen black in one press, for when the screens must not be seen.
  • Lock editing: stop the running order being changed by accident during the show.
  • Front of house: an Agenda link shows the running order with expected times.
How it works

Ready in three steps.

Set up your running order

Create a free account, open a room and give each timer a title, a speaker and a duration.

Put the timer on a screen

Open the stage screen in a new tab, or scan its QR code on a TV, tablet or phone. Nothing to install.

Press Start

Every screen counts down together. Add a minute, send a message or move to the next timer from your laptop or phone.

Questions & Answers

Frequently asked questions.

Yes. Enter the time the countdown should end and Shotimer works out the duration, or give the timer a start time so it starts by itself.
Yes. Every screen with a browser can show the timer: a TV, a tablet or an old laptop. On the free plan, each room can have up to 3 connected screens at once.
Yes. Type a message such as “Beginners to the stage, please” and press Show on stage. It appears on every screen in the room and stays until you clear it.
Yes. Blackout turns every screen black until you press it again, and a message can be shown on its own, without the timer.
Every device needs an internet connection, but each can use a different one, such as venue Wi-Fi or mobile data.
Yes. The free plan includes 3 rooms, 3 timers per room and 3 screens per room, with no card needed.

Learn more in the docs

More ways to use Shotimer

Event production

Several rooms, separate links for operators and moderators, and one controller at a time, so the crew never fight over the clock.

Read more

Awards and speeches

Keep acceptance speeches and toasts short, with a discreet wrap-up message the speaker can't miss.

Read more

Try Shotimer at your next show.

Create a free account and put a timer on your own screens in a few minutes.

Create a free account