Description

Answers subjective. Try to contextualize.
Coursework Task 19
Part 1
Examine these three examples of set design. What do they suggest to you about a) the ‘idea’ of the play/themes b) the setting (time and place), and c) the ‘mood’ of that particular scene (as sets often change between scenes). What other information do you take away from designs? Try to avoid the temptation to read ahead and see which productions these designs are taken from.
1)
2)
3)
Photos attached.

Part 2
You may have recognised these sets if you have seen the productions; they are all acclaimed designs. The first is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, adapted by Simon Stephens from the book by Mark Haddon. It is an acclaimed National Theatre production, which transferred to the West Wend and toured. The second is The Hairy Ape by Eugene O’Neill, which ran at the Park Avenue Armory in New York. The third (and perhaps the most recognisable) is from the RSC’s adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Matilda.

Research the plays online (you will be able to find reviews and plot synopses). Using this information, interrogate the design.
• Do your initial assessments from Part 1 match the play’s content?
• What does the design communicate?
• How does it communicate?
• How does design function as a language (keep in mind the comments above on the cultural specificity of some languages)?