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Set Design by John
Crisp
(
Or the art of satisfying everyone at no expense! )
The primary object of set design is to portray the
location where the action of the play is supposed to take place.
Easy, you think, if the action all takes place in one room but
that room must be so contrived that the actors can be seen and for
the most part are speaking in the general direction of the
audience and that any particular business which the author demands
can be seen by the audience.
If there is more than one location how is it to be done? Change
the whole set, or adapt the one that you started out with? And
what about the play which jumps backwards and forwards over a
variety of locations?
The play's director and actors must be happy with what you are
offering them. Then of course what you propose must be capable of
construction and be safe, and allow the lighting designer to do
his bit.
All this has to be done, as far as the average amateur company is
concerned, at the least possible expense and utilising scenery and
props which the company has and be portable. And mentioning
portable if you are going touring the set must be adaptable to all
the stages on which you are playing. No wonder we designers so
often are heard saying "Ah! Back to the drawing board."
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