I made the decision to design a tour-able show for the play Red Red Shoes. The set, props, costumes and any technical equipment all have to fit into the back of a van, and be set up by the cast within an hour. We have been given a cast of 4-5 actors and 1 stage manager to create this show. This means that 8 characters and all of the cast roles have to be shared between a maximum of 5 actors.
A key thing about this project is that I really want to keep it as simple as possible. I want to focus on a key concept, and cleverly configure a design that portrays it. At the moment I am thinking of focusing the set design around the concept of the head of a traumatised child and also looking at the medical centre.
I like the idea of a traverse production that somehow includes the audience more than the average production. I am considering incorporating a way for the children to get involved by making noises that add to the scenes being set in the play. An idea that could be interesting is experimenting with a way to encourage the children to stamp their feet when Franvera begins to dance.
