Designing the set for Rumours

The set for Rumours has been designed by an aspiring professional. Laura Barns is studying set design at Guildford School of Acting and is putting her skills to practical use. Laura joined Progress because she was interested in stage management but almost immediately found herself playing a lead role in Neverwhere. She also took on some stage management roles most notably for last summer's outdoor production of Henry IV Part One. If you remember the particularly un-summery weather you can imagine this was quite a challenge.



Laura overseeing the set build for Rumours


She also discovered an interest in set building and design so when she started her degree in Professional Production Skills she chose stage management and set design as her specialist areas. After a couple of weeks she realised that professional stage managers don't get as much opportunity to make an artistic contribution as they do in the amateur theatre and that she missed this so decided to concentrate on set design.

A set must be functional, for instance it must have doors where the director needs them and steps and platforms as required, but it is also an important element in the feel of a production. The set is the first thing an audience sees and so has to set the right tone. Rumours is set in the home of a prominent Government minister so something smart and stylish was  called for.

 

After some initial drawings Laura made a model of her design to show the director and cast and give the set build team an idea of what they were aiming for.



One thing she has learnt from this production is that it is much easier to draw curves then it is to construct them! Laura feels that at this stage in her career it is important to be 'hands on' as a designer and be part of the set building team so that she can understand how her designs will work in practice.

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Auditions for Macbeth, the Summer Shakespeare production, Lord and Lady Macbeth only, Friday February 8th, 7pm Progress Theatre. Auditions for all other parts Sunday 3rd and 10th March 2.30pm.

Auditions for Colder than Here by Laura Wade, Sunday 10th February 2pm, Wednesday 13th 7.30 pm, Progress Theatre

Rumours by Neil Simon, Monday18th to Saturday 23rd February 2013, Progress Theatre

Progress Youth Theatre presents The School of Night by Peter Whelan, Monday 18^th and Tuesday 19^th March 2013, 7:45pm at Wycliffe Baptist Church, 233 Kings Road RG1 4LS.