Staging And Set Design Flashcards
Why were theaters upgraded to accommodate greater attendance?
The great population shift, as a result of the Industrial Revolution in England saw many people leave the rural countryside to seek employment in cities. This meant there were more people who sought out theaters.
What changes did the make to the stage?
The Proscenium Arch remained, but the painted flat back cloth disappeared. It was replaced by the box set, a room with three walls. It was through the fourth invisible wall that the audience acted as voyeurs, secretly observing ‘a slice of life’ on stage.
Why is staging so important in theatre realism?
The idea that characters and their relationships with others are deeply impacted by their specific environments.
How did characters enter and exit stage?
Through actual doors, not into the wings which would have proved that the show was staged and destroy the illusion of the working world.
Was much attention paid to set dressing?
Yes! Enormous attention was paid to set dressing. Working doors even with locks, sofas, vases, flowers, carpets, portraits, curtains at windows etc. even real fruit and vegetables were used.
How was electricity used to enhance the working world of the stage?
Electricity meant that it became possible to darken the auditorium but keep the Box Set scene well lit. This separation through light helped to strengthen the illusion that the audience were hidden watchers, spying on reality.
