Designing a set for a theater productions, whether it is large or small in scale, can be overwhelming. Professionals know that there are many parts of the performance that need to fit together like a puzzle in order for it to flow and be performed seamlessly. Whether your stage design is meant to be simplistic or highly technical, there are some common elements that the professionals would recommend that you consider before you finalize your plans:
- Focus – Think about what you want the focus to be before you begin designing. What exactly do you want the audience to zero in on? Is it a lone actor projecting a monologue, or is it a full cast performance that requires technical assistance? Once you discover where the focus should be, you can add the design to enhance the acting and score.
- Stage Layout – Create a detailed and practiced drawing of the blocking of the show. Nothing can ruin a show like an actor being blocked from making an entrance or stage props being unable to be accessed at the right time.
- Lighting – Always consider the lighting when creating your set design. It can bring out the mood and allow for careful movement of backdrops or stage props.
- Timing – Be sure to consider the flow of the show. Do the set changes slow down at some points and speed up at others? How will you accommodate the different moving pieces so that it does not become a distraction to the audience?
- Mood – What type of mood are you trying to portray in each part of the show? Set design can enhance the mood and, in some cases, set the mood for the actors and audience members.
Talk to the professionals at Backdrops by Charles H. Stewart for your set design questions. Call (978) 682-5757