AQA GCSE Drama Student Book: Revised Edition

Set design For set design, you might consider: staging con guration the location and atmosphere of the scene if there will be any levels, platforms, ramps or stairs entrances and exits if there will be backdrops, ats or projections whether there will be special effects the colour palette you will use how materials, textures and shapes can help to create a suitable setting what props or set dressings are needed. One of the challenges is to decide how realistic or arti cial/stylised you want your set to be. Alongside this, you need to know how you will incorporate the different settings into this. You could, for example: have a composite set, which represents several settings at once, a minimalistic set or set changes where scenery will be brought onstage ask the actors to bring on set items or construct or dismantle parts of the set in front of the audience use modern technology, such as projections or a revolve suggest themes through theatrical metaphors , such as colours, symbols or backdrops associated with families, loss or memory. A set design could perhaps suggest an idealised version of the family which is then dismantled, or the garden could be a symbol of life from birth to death. TASK 26 Create three set design sketches for scenes in the garden, the living room and Mark’s at. Consider: dominant materials, colours and textures positioning of important set items or props levels the atmosphere you want to create how the set supports the action of the play. TASK 27 Look at the sketch below of a traverse stage. Choose a scene from the play which occurs inside the house. Create a set design for it using this con guration. TASK 28 Choose one signi cant prop or piece of scenery that appears in the play. Sketch several ideas of how it could be designed. Some important items include: the kitchen table the rose bushes the shed. Important props include: Mark’s suitcase Rosie’s travel bag Ben’s laundry. TASK 29 In ‘Winter’, there is a rainstorm. Think of: at least two different ways this effect could be created practically where on your set it might occur for maximum effectiveness. KEY TERM: Theatrical metaphor: when comparisons and symbols are used to suggest meaning. For example, a set design which resembles a head might suggest that all the action is a characters’ thoughts or dreams. 92 COMPONENT 1 UNDERSTANDING DRAMA