The Stage: Set Design and Construction 1999
Distributed by Films Media Group, PO Box 2053, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-2053; 800-257-5126
Produced by Films for the Humanities and Sciences
Director n/a
VHS, color, 25 min. each
High School - Adult
Literature, Theater
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
Reviewed by Jennifer Vinopal, Bobst Library, New York UniversityThese two smart new videos take viewers behind the scenes of the Royal Shakespeare Company to discover how stage illusions are created by a team of talented designers, costumers, and makeup artists. The RSC performs 30 shows per year, with 150 actors playing over 500 different roles. Costumes and sets need to be designed and constructed for years of use, and yet be flexible enough to accomodate this repertory theater's schedule of several different plays per week. How do they do it?
Using hip yet restrained video design, editing, and graphics, these videos show the process of desiging and creating sets, props, costumes and makeup for Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing, and Thomas Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy. Designers explain the process of turning sketches and models into real sets and costumes. You'll take a trip to the fabric store with the costume supervisor. Makeup artists show how on-stage stabbings, blood, and bruises are done. You'll even learn how Hieronimo seems to bite off his own tongue!
These two short videos are an excellent introduction for anyone interested in learning about the hundreds of people and thousands of hours of work to produce every production of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Highly recommended.