Designing a Theatre Performance

Designing for a scripted performance involves much more than creating visuals. Designers must carefully consider how their designs contribute to the overall concept of the production, fulfilling both the playwright’s and director’s intentions while creating a cohesive experience for the audience. Design choices must be made with practicality and safety in mind, ensuring that the production is both visually stunning and safe for all involved. Collaboration between designers and a clear understanding of the available resources are key to producing an effective and successful design.

What is Design in Theatre?

Design in theatre encompasses the creation of all the visual and sensory elements that support the production of a play. The work of designers plays a critical role in bringing the script to life and creating an atmosphere that enhances the audience's experience. There are various types of designers involved, each contributing to a different aspect of the performance.

Set Designer

The set designer is responsible for creating the physical environment in which the action of the play takes place. This includes designing the stage layout, backdrops, props, furniture, and any other physical structures needed. The set design must reflect the location, time period, and mood of the play. The set designer works closely with the director to interpret the script and bring their vision to life.

Costume Designer

The costume designer designs the clothing worn by the actors. Costumes help convey the character’s personality, social status, time period, and role within the narrative. The costume designer may also work with fabric and colour choices that complement the overall aesthetic of the production.

Lighting Designer

The lighting designer plans and creates the lighting effects for the performance. Lighting is used to set the mood, emphasise important moments, create special effects, and establish time of day or location.

Sound Designer

The sound designer is responsible for all auditory elements of the production, including sound effects, music, and ambient noise. The sound design helps to create atmosphere, communicate themes, and support the action on stage.

Props Designer

The props designer is responsible for designing or sourcing the objects that actors use on stage. Props can be integral to the plot or simply used for realism, and they help to support the overall design concept.

Fulfilling the Brief

When designing for a scripted performance, designers must start by fulfilling the brief, which outlines the specific needs and requirements for the production. This brief is typically provided by the director and may include:

Interpretation of the script: The designer must read and understand the script thoroughly to align their design with the themes, characters, and settings in the play.

Practical considerations: These may include the type of venue, stage dimensions, technical limitations, and the available budget.

Aesthetic choices: The overall visual style of the production, including whether it will be realistic, stylised, abstract, or symbolic, needs to be established. The design should support the director’s vision for the production.

The Playwright’s Intentions vs Artistic Intentions

The Playwright’s Intentions

The designer must stay true to the playwright’s intentions when interpreting the script. The script provides key details about setting, mood, and atmosphere that should be respected in the design. For example, a play set in a working-class household should not have an extravagant set, as this would conflict with the tone of the story. The design should enhance the message or themes the playwright intended to convey.

The Artistic Intentions

Artistic intentions refer to the vision and style chosen by the director. The director interprets the script and translates it into a production, deciding how to express the playwright’s ideas visually and emotionally on stage. The designer must work closely with the director to ensure that their design supports this overall vision. This may involve choosing colours, textures, and materials that reflect the director’s artistic style, whether that’s a minimalist, realistic, or abstract approach.

Establishing a Location

Designers are responsible for establishing the location of the play visually. This is often one of the first challenges of set design. The location could be:

A realistic, everyday setting (e.g., a living room, a schoolroom, a street). The designer must pay attention to detail to create a sense of believability.

An abstract or stylised location (e.g., a dream world, an imaginary space, or a symbolic setting). In this case, the designer might use unusual shapes, colours, or lighting effects to convey the atmosphere.

A historical or fantastical setting (e.g., a medieval castle, a future dystopia). The designer must research the time period or setting to accurately reflect the visual style and mood of the play.

Impact on Other Design Elements

The choices made by one designer can influence and affect other design elements, and it is important that all designs work together as a cohesive whole:

Set and Costume: The set design will influence the costume design. For example, if the set is minimalistic, the costumes may need to be more elaborate to stand out. Similarly, the colours and textures used in the set will inform the style of the costumes.

Lighting and Set: The lighting design must complement the set design to ensure the desired mood and focus are achieved. For example, if the set includes dark corners or intricate details, the lighting must highlight these aspects effectively.

Sound and Set: The sound design should also be in harmony with the set design. If a scene is set in a forest, the sound design should incorporate birdsong or rustling leaves to enhance the atmosphere.

Collaboration between the different designers ensures that each element supports the others, creating a unified experience for the audience.

Health and Safety Considerations

When designing for a performance, designers must take health and safety into account to ensure the safety of both the cast and crew during rehearsals and performances. Key health and safety considerations include:

Stage Safety: Designers must ensure that the set is stable and safe for actors to move around on. This includes securing any large objects, making sure the flooring is non-slip, and ensuring that any elevated structures (such as platforms or balconies) are properly supported.

Costume Safety: Costumes must allow actors to move freely and safely. They should not be too tight, heavy, or long (unless stylistically necessary), and they must be made from materials that won’t cause injury or discomfort.

Props Safety: Any props used in the performance must be safe for actors and audience members. Sharp objects should be carefully handled, and items that might break should be made from shatterproof materials if used in physical scenes.

Lighting and Sound Equipment: Designers must ensure that lighting and sound equipment is installed and used correctly. This includes checking that cables are safely secured, and that lighting rigs are properly mounted to avoid accidents.

When Planning a Design

Designers need to consider several factors when planning their designs to ensure that their ideas are realistic and achievable. These include:

Budget

The designer must work within the allocated budget. This includes sourcing materials, costumes, and props, and ensuring the overall cost does not exceed what has been allocated. Sometimes, this might mean making creative compromises or finding cost-effective solutions to design challenges.

Equipment Available

Designers must work with the equipment available in the theatre or venue. This includes considering the type of stage (proscenium arch, thrust, in-the-round), the technical resources available (lighting, sound, set construction), and the available materials (e.g., wood, fabric, metal).

Skills of the Backstage Team

Designers must also consider the skills of the backstage team, including set builders, costume makers, and lighting technicians. It is important to ensure that the designs are practical and achievable within the technical capabilities of the team. This may mean adjusting designs based on the team's experience or the tools they have at their disposal.