Artist-decorator in the theater. Making scenery for the stage

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Why do people go to the theatre? To enjoy the wonderful acting, an interesting plot of the play and … amazing scenery. Have you ever wondered who creates them and how much work it costs?

Theatre's set designers work tirelessly to translate the set designer's vision from flat sketches to three-dimensional sets. In this article, you will learn about the profession of a decorator.

History of the profession

Decorators appeared in the ancient world. This is due to the needs of high society - clergymen, rulers - to surround themselves with rich, refined interiors made from unique and expensive materials that would capture the imagination of ambassadors of foreign delegations.

The profession of decorator is as old as the theater. It has come a long way of formation and development. Theatrical scenery was originally primitive and crude. Right nowrepresentatives of the profession create everything for highly artistic stage design.

Profession in Brief

The name of this profession comes from the English word decorate, which means “to decorate”.

Set Decorators are interior decorators and theater artists who, based on the sketches of other artists, create scenery for performances. One of their main tasks is the production of scenery that will create a unique look for the stage, which will reflect not only the tastes of the director, but also the spirit of the performance.

The set designer is a kind of stage architect. He needs to understand its structure from the outside and from the inside. The artist needs to know how to make scenery for the stage with his own hands in order to control the work process and monitor the competent embodiment of the creative idea.

Theatrical artists work closely with the director: they must always take into account the creative idea and implement it. However, passive incarnation is not enough. If the set designer has sufficient experience and talent, he can enrich and expand the director's idea. By joining forces, incredible results can be achieved.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the set designer include the management of workers in the theater workshop, as well as the personal implementation of the most complex paintings. In addition, the set designer takes part in the acceptance of sketches and models of scenery for performances and controls the artistic state of scenery for performances.current repertoire. He provides leadership for restoration if theatrical scenery has fallen into disrepair. Works to preserve their original style and color. Stage sets often require many different materials, which are also kept in mind by set artists.

Mass character and uniqueness of the profession

Often, a decorator is equated with similar professionals whose professions are related to creativity, for example, designers. However, this is not at all true. The activity of the set designer is focused on making scenery that will help recreate the atmosphere of the work and help the actors play, while the design work is aimed at mass production.

The profession of a theater decorator cannot be classified as a mass one. Often the same specialist has been working in the same theater for decades.

In a large city where there are many theaters, it is quite possible for a young specialist to find a place in the scenery workshop and, thanks to perseverance and creative individuality, become the head of the workshop.

The set designer must…

• Be able to draw and think creatively.
• Know the basics of composition, drawing and painting.
• Understand the laws of color science and the psychology of color.
• Remember the history of styles and arts.
• Know the traditions of interior design, both modern and historical, ethnic.
• Take into account the peculiarities of the visual perception of the viewer.
• Navigate the market for modern decor materials.
• Understand the device and equipment of the stage, its characteristics.

Personal qualities

Personal qualities a decorator should have:

• The ability to analyze.
• Creativity, resourcefulness and resourcefulness.
• Flexible thinking and curiosity.
• Developed spatial imagination.
• Artistic ability.
• Devotion and responsibility.
• Carefulness and accuracy.

Education: where to get a profession?

The profession of a decorator can be obtained in secondary specialized art schools, architectural and art academies. You can improve your professional skills at various seminars, courses and master classes.

How does a decorator work?

So, where does the work of a theater decorator begin? As with any director and actor - from reading the script, because the scenery is further designed on its basis.

The decorator needs to understand the ideological message of the work, get to know the characters, feel the historical era in which the action takes place, and also feel its rhythm, dynamics and interweaving of the plot. This is where the work begins: the set designer presents the performance as if it is already on stage. Imagination at this stage is a very important part, as it works to clarify the concept of the futurestaging.

The first condition for the further competent work of a theater artist is a clear idea of the production and the possible nature of its artistic solution. Then there is a discussion of the concept with the director. In most cases, the interaction of these two people determines the success of the play.

After discussion with the director, sketches and layouts of the future design of the stage are developed, as well as the design of the artwork as a whole. It must be remembered here that the stage is not just a part of the hall that needs to be forced. It is a space for acting, which is filled with its own emotions and has its own expressive power. The artist creates a layout of the scenery, forming the "style of the performance", working through the design.

Further, after coordinating the layout with the director and making corrections, the set designer proceeds directly to the creation of scenery. This is a period of painstaking work on the details, the selection of the necessary material, texture and shade.

The color scheme of the scene should not be by itself: it is coordinated with the director, costume designers and lighting designers. In addition, each work of world classics requires its own color palette.

At first glance, it may seem that there are too many little things in the work of a theatrical decorator, but it is from them that a holistic image of the entire performance is formed. It is they who help the viewer enter the atmosphere of the production, and the actors in their roles.

Working foractor” is one of the main commandments of the decorator. The artistic design of the production works to ensure that the actors build the plasticity of their character, find the most advantageous part of the stage for each moment of the performance.

The colors of the spotlights that can be seen during the production process can be very diverse. The colors of electric lighting should be correctly integrated into the overall design of the performance.

All this time we've been talking about the theatrical set designer. But this profession is no less important in the musical theater and in the circus. A colorful and vibrant performance in the arena is created not without the participation of the artist. In the creation of any performances, productions and concerts, one cannot do without the help of an artist-decorator.