Set

Question 1

What type of set does the production use

Answer 1

This production utilises the drum revolve of the Olivier Theatre’s stage. The set design is non-naturalistic.

The cyclorama is used for the numerous video (still and moving image) projections that are key to creating setting, period, mood
and atmosphere.

Question 2

Hortense and Gilbert’s bedsit

Answer 2

Hortense and Gilbert’s bedsit is the most detailed creation of space including bed, sink, dining table, cupboard and freestanding door.

Question 3

Queenie’s sweetshop

Answer 3

Queenie’s sweetshop combines projection (rows of sweet jars, for example) with a counter, cash register, chair and freestanding door

Question 4

There is a marked difference between the locations of Great Britain and Jamaica

Answer 4

In Britain the colour palette of furniture, projection and also clothing (see below) is muted.

Film is often in black and white (both for historical accuracy and a sense of difference to the warmer climate of Jamaica).

In contrast, Jamaica is depicted in much brighter, warmer tones of yellow, orange and sepia.

Question 5

The schoolroom in Jamaica

Answer 5

The schoolroom in Jamaica includes chairs and a table which also represent the chicken shed (using a different image on the blackboard to represent the roof of the shed) and the large table doubles as a tree in which Michael and Hortense look for cuckoo eggs.

Question 6

Other one-off locations (the scene with the pig at Queenie’s farm, for example)

Answer 6

are created with basic set such as metal pails and a frame with a pig carcass suspended from it.

Question 7

Transitions

Answer 7

Transitions include

• flying in window frames
• door frames emerging from trap doors (the first transition from Jamaica to Britain for example)
• use of the revolve (Hortense and Gilbert’s bedsit vs. Queenie’s rooms, for example).

Question 8

varied locations

Answer 8

quick transitions and the contrasts between Jamaica and Great Britain,

the stage is generally left bare, with trucks used for locations such as the sweet shop, and use of flying in to provide window frames.

Doors sometimes appear from trap doors.

The sense of busy streets is created by the use of ensemble moving across the stage, enhance by projection, rather than requiring naturalistic detail and large/ static items of set.

The revolve also aids rapid transitions between scenes and locations.