'End of Desire/Escaping Alice'

I am currently designing the Studio autumn double bill 'End of Desire/Escaping Alice' at the York Theatre Royal.

'Grandpa in My Pocket' and 'Gulliver's Travels'

Between January and June this year I design assisted Nettie Scriven for two plays; 'Gulliver's Travels' by Dragonbreath Theatre Company and 'Grandpa in my pocket' at Nottingham Playhouse.

I was predominently involved in model-making for both shows, but on 'Grandpa in my Pocket' I designed some of the props and assisted in the props department at the playhouse.

The following are some photographs from Gulliver's Travels, including some model-making: 

The following are some examples of model-making for grandpa in my pocket:

 

 

 

I designed the 'invention' props for Mr Mentor the Inventors workshop based on the props used in the original television programme:

 

 

 

More photographs of these props will follow...

 

'DreamPlay' by Big Window Theatre Company

In September 2011 I took on the role of design assistant to Nettie Scriven as she designed the set, costume and props for Big Window's production of 'DreamPlay' for very young children and their families.

Big Window endeavor to create inspirational and immersive theatre which will appeal to and stimulate the minds of children, in an intimate and comforting setting. In order to achieve this they are also active in supporting and nurturing local talent.

'DreamPlay', scripted by Peter Rumney, was devised with the intention that small children would know not to be scared of dreaming, and that they would always wake up when they went to sleep.

My role in the production of the play was mainly to create the backdrop of the set; an oriental inspired tree/cloud shape.

Nettie was specific in that she wanted the tree to be thin and fragile looking- whisp was the word she used to describe it. This was illustrated perfectly in the model she had made of the set design but it was harder to create to scale as it needed to be a self-supporting structure which would survive a long tour around Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. After trying out several maquettes I settled on using a rigid netting fabric and running white-sprayed wire through it, like branches, to support it. I layered lace and other netting fabrics onto the base structure to add depth. Visual Scene in Leicester made the bed-like structures and the tree trunk and branches, which all connected together to minimize movement. I used small velcro patches, concealed in the 'foliage' of the tree to attatch the cloud shape onto the branches. 

It was wonderful to see how well the children responded to the environment we created and the way their imaginations were invested entirely in the play and its innovative methods.

Prime Cuts Exhibition in Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane

In July 2011 I was asked to be a part of the 'Prime Cuts' Exhibition in the Old Truman Brewery near Brick Lane in London.

I was very excited to be a part of the exhibition, whose main goal is to provide British graduates from all over the UK with the opportunity to exhibit in the capital. Elliot Scott, one of the founders of the exhibition, is a graduate from Nottingham Trent University and it was his desire to take his final year exhibition to London which gave rise to 'Prime Cuts'.

The exhibition was very well organised and put together and provided the perfect stage to showcase national talent. 

I took my York Prize set Design for 'My Family and Other Animals' and my design for the Curve Young Company production of '3am'. I also included my costume designs and sketchbooks for both, my development folio for the Curve project and my portfolio.

I received very positive feedback from everyone I spoke to and made some valuable industry contacts.

The following link leads to a page on the Prime Cuts website, and I feature in the 2011 festival video.

http://www.primecuts.org.uk/events.php