Historical Seasons Time of day Changes in time during a play Climate or geography Cultural setting Interior or exterior Real or imaginary Create mood
Rooms are not real- stir the imagination All furniture faces the audience Exterior doors to stage right Interior doors usually upstage or stage left Living and dining rooms in one room Use the least to say the most Design helps the play never hinders or
overshadows Works with the actors, lights, sound,
makeup, and costumes to create a unified effect
Box set- realistic, interior setting made of flats
to simulate the three interior walls, and sometimes a ceiling. The audience views the play through the imaginary fourth wall.
Unit Set- uses flats, screens, curtains, platforms,
and stairs that can be rearranged to change locales
Curtain Set- uses the back curtains as the
backdrop with platforms and columns. Very stylized
Permanent Set- set does not change during the play.
One setting is used
Skeleton Set- set consists of frames and openings
that can be left empty or filled with drapes, backings or doors.
Unity- all elements of the set work together to create
the main theme
Emphasis- focuses audience attention on what is important - placement - color - focus as actors speak - special lighting
Proportion- the set is scaled to the people so that it
looks realistic- if play is realistic
Balance- equal distribution of emphasis from one side
of the stage to the other
Line- gives proportion to the set and can create
the psychology on the set
Existing set/stage
Budget
The audience