Expert: James Medd - 12/18/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hello Mr.Medd,
I am currently in Year 13 and finishing my last few terms of the IB. Considering I am taking the Theatre Arts course I am directed to produce a project known as a Research Commission. The project is based upon a style of theatre, then using a certain text, then basing your essay on an aspect of theatre... for example, I am focusing on Elizabethan theatre while using the text Othello and basing my project on stage design. Now, my goal is to create a Globe themed atmosphere at the Théâtre du Pavé located in Toulouse, France. As it is a fairly small proscenium arch stage at the size of 8.80 x 10.70 metres and nothing much like the globe this task will be rather difficult. To create The Globe theatre on our stage and have Othello performed is my goal. I am equipped with 210 seats and 16 lights with various color options. If you are able to, please do forward some information and if possible, photos to help aid me in my quest to recreate an Elizabethan styled theatre.
Sincerely,
Taylor


ANSWER: Hello Taylor.

Thanks for your question. It's interesting to read about your project and the choices you've made in preparing for it. I think the choices you've made are very well informed and you seem to have an idea of what you're aiming for. I hope I can help build on that.

The Theatre du Pave sounds like a wonderful venue for this kind of production. Before the Globe was even thought about, small stages would have been used to present plays of this kind, and so you're definitely dealing with the right kind of venue if you want to present a "true" Shakespearean production.

When I think about how you would go about staging this production, the first thing that comes to mind is the lighting design. Now of course, with only 16 lighting fixtures at your disposal, you're fairly limited to what you can do. I've done a few productions before with only a small lighting rig, and sometimes they're better than the shows with a very complex rig. What I usually do is start off with a couple of flood lights, and rig them so that they provide general coverage of the stage. If you have two pairs, I suggest focusing them both onto the stage as this will be your main daylight lighting. I'd then rig a powerful light for centre stage to pick up a particular actor who might need to be "singled out" during the course of the play. If the design of the theatre allows, I would also rig two further lights left and right of centre stage if two actors are to be picked out on stage. Following that, I would rig lights to pick up actors in any specific places you might have thought about, such as in the auditorium, at the on-stage entrances, or high on the set. However, I would keep to the basics and make sure you have good stage coverage and one or two spotlights on stage to start with. As for colours for your lights, I would just stick to basic white and straw colours, as these shades would have been all that would have been available in Shakespeare's day.

As regards set design, I would just suggest you keep it simple. Really good Shakespeare plays I've seen have been spoiled by too much scenery. I have to confess that I don't know the plot line of Othello very well, but I would recommend that you consider having a raised level on your set, whether this is 5 inches or 5 feet tall. This could then give the impression of a high tower in a castle or somewhere on top of a tall mountain. Don't be tempted to use too many items of scenery or props. Use a couple of props or pieces of scenery to set the scene, and leave it at that. Audience's imaginations work harder than many directors or designers think, and will often "finish the sentences" and make up their own mind of what the imposing castle or grand banquet hall looks like. In any event, you, the designer, will know yourself when the scene looks right and you are happy with the layout.

I'm afraid I can't offer you any photos of Globe-style theatres or sets, as all of the few Shakespeare productions I've done have been modern interpretations. However, I can recommend a very clever and interesting piece of software called Open Stages, which is well worth seeking out on the Internet. It costs nothing to download a trial version, and it took me about a week to play around with it and see how everything works. With the software, you can design scenes, design lighting, colour objects and even fly scenery in and out. I think it's a great piece of software which will give you plenty of ideas if nothing more. There are about 10 preset theatres, of which several are Shakespearean types. The Swan theatre is most like the Globe as it has a thrust stage and very Elizabethan architecture. There is even a tutorial which helps you set up scenery, lighting and costumes for "King Lear".

I hope I've given you a few ideas as to how you might want to develop the design of this production. Again, I think it's a great project and it's certainly a new incentive which I've not heard of before. If you would like any further information, ideas or advice, please feel free to let me know what you require and I'll see what I can do for you. The designs I have done are mainly for "modern" theatre productions but I would be happy to forward a couple on if they would be of use to you.

I wish you the best of luck with your project and hope I can be of further help in some way.

Regards,

James.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello Mr.Medd,
Hope everything is well.
I was just wondering, because you and our e-mails are to be placed in my project's appendix, if I could just get information on your experiences, like your past projects and the actual title of your occupation and or your place of occupation, like a company of some sort? Just so the examiner will see that i've actually spoke to an expert with criteria rather than a random person making things up :) thanks,
Taylor

Answer
Hello Taylor,

Good to hear from you again.

I hope the project is progressing well. I'm pleased to supply the information you need and hope that I can answer any other questions you may need.

My current occupation is Deputy Stage Manager, or DSM. In performance, I "cue" the show - advising stage crew and actors to Standby and Go - as well as looking after the stage and trying to keep things tidy! During building the set and rehearsals, I organise schedules and work with a team of Assistant Stage Managers to rig the set and schedule the rehearsal and performance timetable. Depending on the production I might be present at all the rehearsals prior to moving into the theatre as well.

Generally, I work freelance, although my main base is the Grand Opera House in York, England. I have worked on many productions at this theatre, including We Will Rock You, West Side Story, The Rocky Horror Show, Peter Pan and several operas.

I have also designed a number of sets and lighting rigs for amateur and semi-professional companies, and have worked in other areas of technical theatre such as flying and followspot (spot light) operation.

I hope this gives you all the information you need for the appendix to your project. Again, if you need any more information, please let me know.

Once again, may I wish you every success with your project.

Kind Regards,

James.