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SCENE (SET) DESIGN
DESIGNING SCENERY FOR THEATRE
STAGECRAFT- MR. WOFFORD
SCENE (SET) DESIGN
 Scene (Set) design is the creation of theatrical, as well as film
or television scenery.
 Traditionally, designers come from a variety of artistic
backgrounds, but now they are trained professionals, often
with M.F.A. degrees in theatre arts.
WHAT IS A SET DESIGNER?

Architect

Interior Decorator

Painter

Artist

Historian
(politics,arts,fashion,architectu
re,literature,theatre,film)

Sculptor






Model Maker
Draftsperson
Graphic Artist
Schmoozer
Detective
Salesperson
IMPORTANT PARTS: THE SCRIPT
 The production is shaped
by the needs of the
individual script.
 Many productions are welldefined by the author, to
alter them would alter the
meaning of the play.
 Some plays will need more
discussion than others.
TWO STYLES OF DESIGN
 Representational Design-
presents the scene in a realistic way.
 Presentational Design- Does not
attempt to recreate “real life”.
Designs are more abstract or
symbolic
EXISTING LIMITATIONS
 In some production situations, there are circumstances that shape the
discussion of a play.

Budget

Calendar

People-power

Flexibility for a travelling production

Emphasis on a particular design element

Unique space restrictions.
 Know and discuss the limitations at the very beginning.
THE STEPS A DESIGNER TAKES
 Takes on the project
 Reads the Script
 Researches the play or film
 Analyzes the Script

Place and Locale

Time Period

Themes

Mood
IMPORTANT PART: THE PLAY
 Keep the focus on what is “good for the play.”
 Differences of opinion can be great for collaboration, but it is important to keep
the focus on the success of the play.
 Great collaborative should create energy that takes the project in a new
direction.
New
Idea
Director’s Idea
Designer’s Idea
STEPS CONTINUED…
 Creative Collaboration
 Study the Performance Space
 Sources of inspiration
 Now the hands-on designing begins
 Discuss, meet, argue, negotiate,
figure it out, compromise
 Come up with Final Design
 Communicate Final Design
STEPS CONTINUED…
 Oversee construction, painting,
assembling, sewing, sculpting etc…
 Oversee filming
 Oversee Tech Rehearsals
 Fine Tune details
 Attend the wrap party
FLOOR PLAN
 The groundplan (floor plan) enhances the use of levels and depth for the
director and actor; and it serves as a “playground” on which the play unfolds
during rehearsals.
 Some important rules of thumb for working on the groundplan:

find lots of interesting diagonals

create spaces that are important to individual characters

create tension through obstacles whether they are pieces of furniture, stairways,
stumps or simply interesting levels.
 Defining this “playground” is as important as deciding what it will look like in
elevation.
ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES OF
DESIGN
 Color
 Shape
 Form
 Line
 Texture
 Space
Balance
 Contrast
 Proportion
 Emphasis
 Rhythm
 Unity

PARTS OF THE STAGE
SCENE (SET) DESIGN
STAGECRAFT-MR.WOFFORD
FOUR TYPES OF THEATRE SPACES


Proscenium

audience views the action from one
direction

90% of all theatres

Picture Frame
Arena

audience views the action from four
directions

Oldest arrangement in history

Theatre in the round
FOUR TYPES OF THEATRE SPACES CONT.
 Thrust

audience views the action from three
direction

Most widely used in history
 Created & Found Spaces

each audience member views the
action from a unique perspective

An attempt to break down audienceactor distance

Non-theatre buildings, street theatre,
multifocus environments
SCENIC VOCABULARY
 backdrop: large sheet of painted canvas or muslin that hangs at the back of a set
 backing: flats placed behind doors, windows, hallways, etc. to hide the space
beyond
 cutout: scenery cut out of board or fabric representing profiles of trees,
buildings, etc.
 dead-hung: scenery or lighting that is hanging in the air and not designed to be
moved during the performance
 deck: the stage floor, or a temporary floor that has been built on top of the
permanent floor
SCENIC VOCABULARY
 Erosion cloth: a very loosely woven cloth used to cover freshly seeded ground;
used in theater for texture and background.
 flat: frame constructed of 1-by-3 boards, covered with canvas, painted and used
most often for interior and exterior walls of a building in a stage setting
 ground cloth: a canvas covering the floor of a stage used as a padding for the
acting area usually painted to represent grass, stones, etc.
 levels: steps, platforms, etc. that raise the actor from the stage
 multi-set show: a show that requires several distinct sets