Millie Gray
The model
Our groups brief was to construct a to scale set that replicated an area of the Waverley building and create a short performance piece within the space. I was in the group that focused on Emma's model of Waverley 004. This set would sit alongside Lauren's model of the gate into Waverley creating one piece.
Taking measurements
Emma's model
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Creating flats
Theatre terminology
Making the props
Roles in theatre
We took a wide range of measurements from the space in order to create an accurate recreation. We split the walls up into 3 flats to create the main framework for the piece. Our next step was to create a cutting list so we knew how much material we required for each flat.
To create the flats we measured and cut pieces of wood to length that would be the rails, toggles and stiles. We then drilled and screwed the pieces together, finally adding a front piece to each flat that we could paint to be the walls in 004.
For the window we used a chisel and saw to cut out blocks of the wood so that they could overlap similar to how they sit in the real window.
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We then used our reference images and measurements to mark on the pieces that we would attach to the wall including pipes, dispensers and the notice board
I spent a large period of the project focusing on creating the tissue dispenser. I started by taking accurate measurements of every part of the dispenser with Emma who was working on the soap one. I used moulded polystyrene into the shape using a surform block and my measurements.
We then coated our dispensers in newspaper and PVA glue to give them a more solid exterior which we then painted white and sanded until smooth. Finally I masked of each section and used Rosko paints to add textures and detail to the piece as well as posca pens for the really fine details.
I then coated the whole dispenser in watered down PVA (I experimented with the gloss but found it smudged the pen work) to give it a shine similar to the actual plastic.
Director
Designers
Production manager
Technical stage managers
Company stage manager
Head of props
Head of workshop
It was really interesting to explore the different roles within the theatre industry and look at where each of ourselves may be interested in. What was really interesting was exploring the roles I was not yet aware of such as the Company stage manager..
Scenic painting
After the flats were erected and moved into place with the help of our technicians we were able to begin scenic painting. I really enjoyed this pat of the project and it was interesting learning tips and listening to advice from Sarah who works with Rocket Scenery as a scenic painter.
We looked at airbrushing, distressing and ageing elements of each set. I had a go at airbrushing sections of the bush and then returned to our building, adding texture around the window using a mixture of paint, PVA and sawdust as well as adding small scraps of paper to look like peeling paint, adding texture to what was a very flat, static surface.
Alex and I painted and glazed blocks of wood to create the tiles which were then pinned into the wall as the epoxy resin I tried was not strong enough to with hold the weight.
Our final job was to completely distress the sink area and walls to show how used the room has been, with paint splatters everywhere.
Reference images
Painting the flats
We used white emulsion paint and rollers to cover the flats evenly, leaving the areas that we had taped off where the elements of the dressing would sit.
We then added a strip of grey along the bottom for the skirting board and touched up the edges of each flat with smaller brushes.
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Material suppliers
Material exploration
Assembling
We had to experiment and work with a range of materials in order to replicate the correct textures and shadows on each part of the set. I worked with polystyrene to create the dispenser and also helped to refine the bricks on the pillar that sits outside the window. I also helped with the construction of the bush using Ellie's idea of twisted paper threaded through the chicken wire which worked really well to create a bush like texture when painted and lit.
Projection within performance
We began to think as a group about how we could create a performance from our structures looking at options for lighting a projection.
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The introduction to projection within performance from Barret was really interesting and highlighted the huge possibilities that come with projection and it really helped us to come up with some clever ideas for our piece.
I am also interested in the creation of these projections as things like animation and graphics have been interests of mine in the past so will continue to explore this avenue.
Lighting, projection and puppetry
Within the performance we used a range of lighting effects, projections and puppetry to create the narrative that we had decided on.
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We projected graffiti, footsteps and cat paw prints across the structure as well as the shadow puppet show that member of our group had worked on. For lighting we experimented with lighting to represent night time, a thunderstorm and the morning sunrise. And finally we explored puppetry within the space.
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We experimented with 3 of us on the puppet however this definitely overcrowded the space, tasking away from the puppet itself so my role become controlling the house lights within the theatre during the performance.
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Narrative ideas
We gathered all of our ideas as a group and created a quick storyboard from them that Alex and Barret could help us work from.
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Our narrative focused around the Waverley cat, looking at the cats life as day transitions to night and vice versa.
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- We started with projection, having footsteps come through the room to turn of the light, resulting in the structure out the window being highlighted.
- We then looked at more projection, creating a graffiti piece onto the pillar, and then introducing lightning and thunder to wash away the piece. This lead to the cat entering through the window and small footprints appearing on the floor.
- Our cat would then travel to Ivy's structure, becoming her puppet.
- As it fell asleep we decided on projecting onto the structure a dream like sequence showing the progression through the night which would then become morning as the cat awoke.
The performance
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Reflection
This project has been intense and tiring yet extremely enjoyable and rewarding. Although I was not able to join from the start, and would like to go back and revisit the model and AutoCAD in order to improve those skills, I feel I have still gained a huge amount of knowledge around construction and a greater appreciation for the amount of work that goes into it.
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Within this project I predominantly worked on creating the recreation of 004, learning how to construct flats, how to use machinery, and about painting and dressing. I really enjoyed the construction element of this project as it has provided me with not only skills that will be hugely beneficial within the theatre industry but also that are transferable skills that can be used in everyday life as using all these tools and machinery was very new to me. I think construction is something I hope to continue gaining skills in as I found it a real highlight of first year. I also was interested in the scenic painting as I spent a lot of the project creating the tissue dispenser prop trying to make it as realistic as possible. I also enjoyed the scenic painting we did around the sink and surrounding area as I think it ended up looking really effective.
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Looking back and reflecting on what I would think about improving on I would have liked to have experimented with more materials for the bottom of the dispenser just in order to make it that bit more realistic, however with the time I had I was pleased with the painting I decided to go with. I also agree with the feedback I was given on the 2 outer walls of 004, that they could have used some more distressing as with the lighting on top of them they felt very new and quite flat so in the future I would like to be more confident and bolder in distressing areas to show age.
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Overall, I am happy with my contribution to this project and pleased with the skills I have gained in communication and working as a team as well as skills in construction, lighting, scenic painting and even a new understanding of projection that I hope to explore further in the future. This project for me personally, and I feel the whole group, was extremely rewarding with the performance being enjoyed by those who watched and some positive feedback that followed that consolidated our feeling that we had worked hard throughout.