Flats

Flats are either soft or hard. They are often the primary type of scenery in MUGSS and regardless of type serve essentially the same purpose.

Soft Flats are constructed from a wood frame supporting a piece of stretched fabric (often canvas). More on canvas flats

Hard Flats are constructed from a wood frame and covered in hardboard. More on hard flats.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Hard Flat Benefits Hard Flat Problems
Because walls are more solid, you can use different materials on them to texture them More expensive than soft flats
Tend to be easier to join together Thicker than soft flats
Harder to damage that soft flats Heavier than soft flats
Tend not to shake as much as fabric flats
Soft Flat Benefits Soft Flat Problems
Cheaper More difficult to texture or affix any set pieces - you can't screw in a lamp for example.
Easier to fly than hard flats Can move too freely, more affected by sudden draughts etc
Far easier to damage