Today its design. I’ve often thought that in a different life I would liked to have been a theatre designer. Some of the best work I have ever seen has been enhanced or even made possible thanks to the designer.  That’s not say I don’t believe in the power of an empty stage, but when the design is right, it should speak to you in the same way the actors and the play do.

So I’m going to share a few things with you.  Firstly an interview with Tom Scutt, a 28-year-old stage designer who has been taking the theatre world by storm. The above image is from one of his latest creations for a stage version of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. Scutt gave his interview to ‘The Stage’

Secondly, an article in which theatre critics chose what they consider to be The 10 best theatre designs that have changed the face of modern theatre, from a 1912 Hamlet to Punchdrunk’s immersive Faust.

Thirdly a link to a web site by the stage designer J. William Davies that is full of delicious images and material. Click the image below, which is of his box set for a design for Six Characters In Search of An Author by Pirandello.

And finally my favourite two designs of the last couple of years. The first is by Börkur Jónsson, for VesturPort Theatre Company from Iceland, for their stunning production of Metamorphosis that played in Hong Kong a couple of years ago.  I was lucky enough to have front row seats and breath was taken away by every aspect of the production.

The second is by Ushio Amagatsu who directed, choreographed and designed the butoh piece Kagemi, by the Sankai Juko Company. I was privileged to see this one in Melbourne about 4 years ago. Wow.  The antithesis of my first choice, in its beautiful minimalism.

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