Scenic design, also known as stage design or set design, is the creation of scenery for theatrical productions including plays and musicals. The term can also be applied to film and television productions, where it may be referred to as production design. Scenic designers create sets and scenery to support the artistic goals of the production. More recently, scenic designers are having an increasing presence in the artistic process, as co-creators, shaping the physical and overall tone of the production. These designers work closely with the director, playwright, and other creative members of the team to develop a visual that complements the narrative and emotional tone of the production. Set design today can include multiple elements – props, backdrops, set pieces, lighting, costume and sound design. Technical tools and special effects availability will also influence set design and implementation. As a play progresses, the set directs your understanding of changes to location, time or age. It may use imagery, such as pictures, or moving scenes to depict movement. For example, the latest production of Les Miserable uses LED screens to move the character from one place to another, specifically moving through the sewer scenes and when Javert throws himself into the river, it uses the background screen to give the impression of him falling, while the actor is lifted off the ground. So - why is set design so important? The set is the first thing the audience will see when the curtain goes up, and the lighting goes down. It will direct your eyes and explain the environment. The first hush of the theatre can be magical, between the curtain rising, the audience taking in the set, in the few seconds prior to the beginning. The Phantom of the Opera. Let’s take a look at the 2011 production at the Royal Albert Hall, marking the 25th anniversary of Phantom performances. Cast and orchestra: 200 Set design: Matt Kinley, taking inspiration from the original Phantom set designer: Maria Björnson. Theatre: Royal Albert Hall Set changes: Budget for set design: difficult to find out, but the expected weekly, combined cast and production cost for Phantom in the theatre is between £600-800,000! Specific challenges for set design: chandelier, stage size, shape and position. Here is a more detailed look at the set design elements for the Royal Albert Hall Performances: Integration of Original Elements: The design was able to retain many iconic elements of the original set design, which helped the production retain its familiarity and original design. For example- The Chandelier was deconstructed and brought from His Majesty’s theatre and the set for the title song was the same with the gondola, rising candles and fog machine. However there were elements that couldn’t be adapted to use at The Royal Albert Hall- Near the beginning of the show there is a scene in a dressing room with a mirror that The Phantom appears in, they changed this so Christine was sat at just a dressing table facing towards the stage with the large screens behind her acting as a mirror, then sliding off to reveal The Phantom who then invites her to come through. Another thing is the Masquerade ball stairs, they usually perform that on a rounded staircase to the right of the stage however due to the stage and also the very much larger than usual cast, they were spread over the two staircases at either end of the stage. Projections and LED Screens: The Royal Albert Hall’s stage is better designed for concerts than plays, so they had to make use of a smaller available area. Instead of traditional scenery, the use of LED screens and projections were creatively used to depict backdrops and scenes. Like I said with the mirror, they project it as though to look like it is Christine reflected in a large mirror. They used these to replicate larger sets used in the West End show, for example during ‘All I Ask Of You’ they use the screens to show a backdrop of the roof of the opera house to make it look as though they were up on the roof. Balcony Integration: The balconies either side of the stage were altered to create uprights and form an arch, mimicking the look of an opera house, to help with the correct stage presentation. Orchestra Platform: The orchestra, usually below/in front of the stage, was placed on an elevated platform, with screens behind it which gave the impression of it being halfway up the back wall, with further projected screens making the space larger. It was also a good point of entry for the Phantom at times when he was ‘watching over’ scenes. For example when he appears after Christine and Raoul’s duet, revealing he was watching them and during ‘Wandering Child’ he is up there, this to me plays into the idea of him being a ghost/monster or something inhuman being up higher above everyone. The Chandelier: It was not safely possible to have a full falling chandelier during the Royal Albert Hall Performance. Instead, they decided to use effects to make it look like it was exploding and malfunctioning, and give a similar effect, allowing for the space constraints within the hall. This production of Phantom (that was put together impressively quick!) had to work the set changes differently, due to the large amount of space that has been created to use on the stage and the vast architectural and building differences to where they are used to performing it. There are quite a few scene changes to this long running show, however, with time, and changes to theatres, directors, set designers and many other introductions to performances over time, the sets always will have a chance to if not change, then improve in presentation, in styles, and in size or structure. This is why set design is so important a part of any performance, and always to be considered for a change.