Assignment
Scenic designer, costume designer OR lighting designer
Using the play Medea, ancient Greek tragedy written by Euripides, Working with the play's script, select ONE scene to analyse from the point of view (POV) of a scenic designer, costume designer OR lighting designer. How would y o u bring this one scene to life visually on stage?
Discuss the general social, cultural, and historical context of the play (or new play), elaborate on yo ur o w n interpretation and original ideas in working with the scene, and explain creative choices.
The questions below might be able to guide your analysis.
I. Scenic Design
1) Specify selected scene's start and end (page numbers and first line and last line).
2) How do the stage directions (if any) describe the scene's location, time of day/season, historical period, etc?
3) What do the characters say about the scene's location, time of day/season, historical period, etc?
4) What is ur approach to stylization in this scene? How are y ou using the limited playing space on stage? done any visual research to illustrate your ideas?
5) Which single location are you picking to design your set?
6) Remember that the set must have a purpose. What is your reason for your decisions?
7) Once selected the time and location, how do you plan to bring your world to life?
II. Costume Design
1) Specify scene's start and end (page numbers and first line and last line) and pick two characters to focus on that appear in the same scene.
2) How do the stage directions (if any) describe the characters' appearance and attire, time of day/season, historical period, etc?
3) What do the characters say about their appearance and attire, time of day/season, historical period, etc?
4) Describe y o u r costume designs and how they tell the story of each of the characters, as well as their relationship in the scene.
5) What do these costumes say about the characters' social status, identity, self-image, view of each other, etc.?
6) Once selected the time and location, how do y o u plan to bring to life the world of the characters, utilizing costume design?
III. Lighting Design
1) Specify scene's start and end (page numbers and first line and last line).
2) How do the stage directions (if any) describe the scene's atmosphere and mood, the characters' appearance, time of day/season, historical period, etc?
3) What do the characters' dialogue or action reveal about the scene's atmosphere and mood, the characters' appearance, time of day/season, historical period, etc?
4) We are looking for at least two different lighting looks, so, you can focus on either two moments from the one scene, or one moment from the scene and a transition into or out of the scene.
5) Will your lighting be more "realistic," attempting to recreate natural or naturalistic lighting? Or will your lighting be more stylized, and perhaps less realistic/more abstract?
6) How will yo u represent your concept visually in the supplementary visual materials? Will u utilize research images, sketches, collage, mini plots, renderings?
Actor OR director
Working with the play's script, select ONE scene to analyse from the point of view (POV) of an actor OR director. How would u direct your performer/s? Or, how would u enact this scene, or a portion of it, for a live audience?
I. Acting
1) Which one character are yo u choosing and from which scene (specify the scene's start and end: page numbers and first line and last line)?
2) What are the objectives of this character? What does the character want in this scene?
3) What is the background and what are the traits that make your character who they are?
4) What are the character's past, present, and future given circumstances?
5) What are the rules of the world which the character inhabits and how do they shape your character? This is where the mood board will come in handy.
6) How would you approach the physicalization of this character?
II. Directing
1) Specify your scene's start and end (page numbers and first line and last line).
2) What is the play's spine (the central statement you as a director believe the play makes)?
3) What is the world of your play? Where and when will the play be set? What are the rules of the world which the characters inhabit and how do these rules shape your characters?
4) Describe your dream cast for this play/scene? Who do you want in your show and why?
5) Selecting a small section of the scene and take us through its blocking: where do the actors stand in relation to one another and how do they move? Why?
6) Working with ur actors, how would u approach the physicalization of this scene?
7) Ultimately, what is the aesthetic ofur show? What are u trying to say with this play?