|
 |
The essence of any production is the space in which it is performed providing the appropriate feel of time and area within which the actors can perform.
All skills are welcomed in this capacity; from the DIY enthusiast to anyone keen to learn and help, be it in making or painting.
|
| |
|
| Preparation |
| At the beginning of each new production the stage manager and team have a meeting to discuss the set design and iron out any problems which they can see that the designer has not anticipated. Then every Tuesday evening, during the rehearsal period, the backstage team meet at our scenery store in order to work on constructing the set, before retiring to the local pub for refreshment afterwards. |
| Construction |
| Unlike many amateur groups, our scenery is not hired. As such it is down to a dedicated team of backstage staff to construct the set. In most cases this will be reusing items from previous productions suitably adapted. As most sets utilise flats, this will normally require an alternative background paint and may necessitate some modification to openings. A typical box set at the Hazlitt theatre would require 12 12*4 flats (4 on each side) creating 3 walls - the forth wall being the audience. Such a set would be very dull and uninteresting if not embellished and impractical without its functional elements such as doors. The basics such as doors and windows would be the first to place, but then there are the types of doors and windows to consider, whether they have to be functional or just for show, what the period is etc. Ideally the set designer would give a brief which would cover all these details. Once the visible set is established, there may well be a need for additional flats which will only be seen through doorways or stairs and others which are required to stabilise the set and make it self supporting or to hide backstage areas from the audience. |
| Obtaining Things |
 |
| The set construction team is integral in helping to create various illusions which requires the use of initiative. A set designer may specify the need for marble pillars but large plastic drains pipes will do just as well once painted effectively. Similarly the team may not receive specific guidance on how the more complicated elements of the set are to be constructed and consequently have to use their wealth of experience to resolve such problems. In the past, they have been required to produce a sewer for 'Guys & Dolls' which was constructed from scratch, a spiral staircase which was acquired for 'Cabaret' and has since been used in a number of productions and raised sections of staging which have been achieved through the use of scaffolding. |
 |
|
|
|
