Edexcel GCSE Drama: Designing Drama

TECHNICAL AND DRESS REHEARSALS FOR SET DESIGNERS The rehearsal schedule works towards a technical and then a dress rehearsal. These are the rehearsals that draw everything together. As set designer, you should sit in the audience area for the technical and dress rehearsals. You need your notebook to hand and should change your seat every now and again to check sightlines. Technical rehearsal This rehearsal is for technicians and designers. It will probably be the first chance to put all the elements of the production (performers, lights, sound, costumes and set) together. Everything might look and work as planned, but take the opportunity to change things if not. If you encounter some typical problems, try the suggestions in the table below. ASSESSMENT CHECK Rehearsals will help you to reflect, analyse and evaluate (AO4), and develop your skills in: • ‘making appropriate judgements during the development process’ • ‘adapting designs in response to rehearsals.’ This understanding will also help you in the exam to: • ‘form critical judgements’ • ‘analyse and evaluate the ways in which performance and production elements are brought together to create theatre.’ FOCUS • The role of the set designer during final rehearsals. • How potential problems might be overcome. Potential problems Possible solutions and timings Parts of the set are not finished. Perhaps the edge of a flat has not been painted or a vase does not have flowers. List outstanding tasks. Ensure they are done before the dress rehearsal (and allow time for paint and glue to dry). A set element is not functioning properly. For example, a door isn’t opening and closing smoothly. Make adjustments so that the issue is fixed before the dress rehearsal. A piece of set does not look or feel right. For example, a bookcase looks too empty, too full or too tidy. Decide if you can make changes before the dress rehearsal. If not, get it done before the performance. The actors are struggling with some aspect of the set. Perhaps they have to squeeze between items of furniture or cannot move scenery smoothly. Make a list or annotate your design. Work with the actors after the ‘tech’ to rearrange the furniture or practise moving the scenery. The set does not appear as you had hoped under some of the lighting states. Note which scenes are causing the problem. Talk to the lighting designer before the dress rehearsal and see if you can come to a compromise in the intensity or colour of the lighting. Part of the set is obscuring sightlines from some areas of the audience. Sketch where problems occur. Adjust the positioning of the set if possible. Otherwise, remove the awkward seats from the audience. Dress rehearsal The ‘dress’ is the final, timed, run before the performance. Now that technical issues have been addressed, the actors can perform uninterrupted. Again, watch from the audience area with a notebook. Remember to move around and look out for the following: • Have changes from the tech been made successfully? • Are sightlines clear from every position in the audience? • Are set changes working smoothly and in reasonable time? • Are the actors happy moving around the set? If there are still issues, revisit your notes and the table above. Work with your colleagues to tackle problems. Make final tweaks as necessary. DESIGN TIP Try not to interrupt the rehearsal unless there is a health and safety issue, so that you can see how elements work in real time. Chapter 1 Practical Guide to Set Design 29