A drive unit for at least one traction means, especially in stage machinery, with a winding drum comprising at least one take-up region, on (each of) which a traction means is received which can be wound up or unwound, characterized in that axially adjacent to the take-up region there is a cylindrical drive region disposed on the winding drum, on which is received a belt-shaped drive means that can be wound up or unwound and which can be wound up onto a drivable drive drum, generating a drive torque acting on the winding drum, or can be unwound from the drive drum, releasing the winding drum.