U N I T 2 THEATRE, PERFORMANCE AND TECHNOLOGY In this Unit the focus will be on what scenography also known as set design is and what today s scenographer does and how performance and technology interlink with each other in this profession. You will learn what digital scenography is and how computer tools in scenic design are used. A. WHAT A SET DESIGNER DOES All of the scenery, furniture and props the audience sees at a production of a play, make up the set design. The set designer s job is to design these physical surroundings in which the action will take place. The overall look of the set also gives the audience information about the director s concept of the production. The set should: suggest the style and tone of the whole production create mood and atmosphere give clues as to the specific time and place of the action offer creative possibilities for the movement and grouping of the actors. The set may also need to be designed so that the backstage areas used by the actors and stage crew are kept out of sight from the audience. This will depend on the effect the director wants to create with the staging and on the type of stage the production uses. All of the things appearing on the stage, different from the scenery, are called stage properties, or props. Set props like furniture, draperies and decorations are the types of things that complete the set and they need to be part of the set design. The set designer will normally read the script many times, both to get a feel for the flavour and spirit of the script and to list its specific requirements for scenery, furnishings and props. The time of day, location, season, historical period and any set changes required in the script are noted. The set designer s focus here is on understanding everything that may be needed based on the dialogue in the script. Set designers at work. GLOSSARY clue: some information which helps us to understand drapery: cloth hanging or arranged in loose folds overall: general sight: the ability to see script: the words of a play 274