Antigone, Projection experimentation.

Further photos of the 'Antigone' group investigation of projection lighting.
Blank grey t-shirts allowed the projections to show up clear, as well as hold the colours better than darker colours would have done when using gels in the lighting. The moving projection images suggested surreal dream-scape themes and only required simple costume too, so a project of this motive would be easy to source costume or blank, minimalistic set for.
The mood can be changed through the colour of lighting or through the projected images themselves, possibly varying from light hearted colourful graphics to harder hitting scenes from the news.

Reconsidering stage space: Orpheus.

Now knowing which play I'll be focussing on for this theatre festival, myself and a few of the acting and other design students re-visited Farnham Maltings to look over the potential theatre spaces again. Taking panoramic photos allowed me to look at the rooms as a whole after leaving, as opposed to lots of little images. This also lets me see the composition of the room a lot better than serparate images would do.

1) Top image: This room was agreed to being too open and light for a burlesque club scene. There where also no rigs for lighting up, which would mean additional rigging for an entire room. However, use of a mirror would make the room appear more crowded and may be very useful if the audience are to be immersed in this?

2) Middle image: So far this is our first choice for the Orpheus production to take place. The layout of the room is suitable for the potential staging plans that the Performing Arts students had in mind, it isn't too bright, and it already has rigs in place. From spending time talking about lighting with the students, it's clear that lighting, specifically at least five spot lights will be needed, so this is also ideal for that aspect of the production. The depth and dimensions of the room are also suitable, as I think that a gigantic space would feel too impersonal for the immersive club experience they wish to create. This space is also suitable for the seating they've chosen to use.

3) Bottom image: The Great Hall was the biggest space of the three, with prebuilt seating and stage area. It was very dark in here when I took the photo, which is why the quality of the image is so low and had to be edited! There was mention of potentially lowering set down onto the stage, which would be difficult in this environment as the ceiling is so high. However, with a possible flight deck/ flying plan, this could be possible; that is something I will need to enquire into. Again, it is harder to make this space personal as it's so large and open, but perhaps with the corridor leading into it dressed as well as use of the walk way the students can be seen standing on in the image, this could be achieved?

Overall, either the environments in the middle or bottom images could work with 'Orpheus' but ideas will be discussed with both the Performing Arts students and the rest of the design team.

Farnham Maltings: Contextual Background

The Farnham Maltings is the chosen theatre performance space for the collaborative project to take place in. Providing a variety of potential spaces in which to actually stage the separate plays, we not only have the opportunity to dress a stage but also create an entirely immersive environment for the audience to move in and become a part of, e.g. dressing the corridors between productions, as we have almost the whole building to play with. Going into the space and photographing the different open areas that could hold a performance, whether that be a staging already there or even a staircase that could make an appropriate environment for the context of the play will be something I carry out during the visit.

The Maltings itself is an art centre situated in the heart of Farnham, hosting facilities for both theatre productions and crafting activities a like. Encouraging people into these arts, it is currently compromised of open rehearsal spaces, a Great Hall, a darkroom, sixteen artist studio spaces, a workshop for pottery, a cafe and the cellar bar to mention but a few.

The programme is kept updated with a range of productions varying from live music, to stand up comedy as well as regional theatre companies using the Maltings as an international showcase, e.g. Currently, "Pussy Riot! A Punk Prayer" is being played in the Cineclub. Previous artists include Dancing Brick, Strangeface, and Little Bulb, a company also collaborating with the Performing Arts students we will be working with.

As a place that regularly holds pieces of independant theatre and an obvious range of performance art, The Maltings proves a great place to stage our immersive interpretations of traditional plays.

Image source.
Information source. 

Stage specific photos: Bridewell Theatre

Photos taken specifically with audience views in mind.
Top image in from back row seating.
Above image is taken within actors space looking into the small undercut at the back. Photos not great quality due to taking them on my phone!

Bridewell Theatre location photos.

I put together a small mood board of the photos I took at the Bridewell theatre, showing the performance space from all angles as well as taking photos from certain tricky audience sight lines, e.g. the balcony is not visible from the back row seats. Details like this must be taken into account when designing for theatre, as not all the audience will be able to see the same view depending on seating.
These images also show the kind of aesthetic that the building already has in terms of architectural design and colour scheme. These potential details could also be used to the designers advantage when considering the visual narrative of the play, e.g. The stage had a lot of depth to it, which may be used to create physical or emotional distance with the audience within the narrative.

The details of the theatre space included a trap door, a long but narrow stage, little use of wings, Victorian styled architecture from where the space used to be a Victorian swimming pool.

Building Photos

Particularly picturesque buildings on the way to the 'Reefer Madness' project briefing, at the Bridewell Theatre, 26th February 2016.

Maidstone Studios Briefing

The day following the specialist pathway deadline brought us the first briefing at the TV studios in Maidstone. Having the opportunity to see the space we will potentially be working in gave an insight to the size and structure of the set that the students running the project had in mind.

After touring the building and rooms we would be working in, we also discussed the project brief. The proposed idea from the TV Production students was to create a half hour long program aimed at children called 'Teach Em' A Lesson'; A Victorian classroom set where two group of actual school children will participate in a series of challenges and quizzes, with strong themes of educational history.

The details that were of importance to us as the design and making team were aesthetics of set, an idea of dimensions and any props and costume required. With the budget of £600, some adjustments and compromises had to be made, but by the end of the meeting there was a good general idea of what was needed and the next steps to be taken: Initial designs, assigning roles and beginning making and sourcing. As this is the quickest hand in date to come around, the making and planning had to happen right off the bat.

24th February 2016