Thursday, October 20, 2011
The insane floating theatrical stages of Austria's Bregenz Festival
DVICE: See those human-shaped figures up there? Those are people, standing on a massive book, dwarfed by a huge crown, performing in the shadow of a gigantic skeleton. This is just one of the floating theatrical stages from the annual Bregenz Festival in Austria, and the crazy is only getting started.
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9 comments:
OH. MY. GOODNESS. This is absolutely spectacular. I am speechless! All of these scenes look straight from a Salvador Dali painting, especially the scene with anatomical, large pair of feet. I also think that the idea of having a floating stage is breathtaking adding even more so to the surrealistic aesthetic- the elements of the moving water and the setting sun bringing the art inspired pieces to life. To even see these pictures is a gift- to be there experiencing such an event would be priceless.
All of these stage designs are not to ever be called simple or small. Those pictures are incredible and I'm sure that the stages themselves are so much more. I just don't know how anyone thinks to do that because it does add an extra dynamic to the performance and definitely aesthetically beautiful, which I feel goes without saying. I'm only curious as to how it effects the performers and the show itself. I know that a good set and scenes and all the works add to a show but a lot of times we sometimes step back and ask ourselves, is this taking away too much from the actual plot and the actual acting? Just wondering how the performers use this stage as an advantage or maybe it is a disadvantage. I'm only wondering because these stages really could perform on their own.
These floating stages are visually incredible. While I agree with the above post that if used incorrectly they could be distracting, a floating set also has incredible design potential. Anything floating on water is going to have a certain amount of constant movement, so this would have to be an intention of the design, not just a byproduct of using floating on water for the shock value. This goes for the use of any sort of new technology in theatre. It should be used to support and augment the design, not just for the shock value.
Speechless.
There sets look like design exercises our students do here: extremely grandious, huge spectacle, and practically impossible. I'm looking at the scale of these sets and am trying to wrap my mind around them. I'd like to know how much one costs to build (dollars and labor) and where does that money come from. That's what I find more impressive. They look stunning but that's mostly because of their scale. I'd imagine we're looking at material selections we're not used to looking at in the theatre. I also wonder about the nautical issues involved. How much of that world needs to be considered when thinking about the structural integrity and temporal nature of theatre construction.
These sets look amazing. The grand scale of these sets is absolutely stunning. The level of detail they are able to create, the artistic vision, as well as the technical know-how to get these sets to float. The fact that they are able to create something like this, that sits outside, and can withstand the force of nature, as well as the fact that it's floating for the duration it's out there. It just boggles my mind. It's great that someone out there is pursuing these kinds of mind bending gigantic stages, and while I think the argument can be made that having the stages float is just an added shock value, these sets are so fantastic and so well designed and made, that I think the fact that they are floating becomes secondary because they are so amazing. Would love to see one of these in person, would be a great experience
The set of the skeleton reading the book with people has been around a long time. They did not build that for this show. I saw a picture of that set at least 5 years ago perhaps ten. I fact I went and looked it up and it was built in 1999. So either this is an old photo or they do this show in rep. If so, storing this thing would be the greatest feat of all. I love the fact that that thousands people show up for this kinda of spectacle. It is sad that in Pittsburgh our biggest spectacle is of course a football game. But this was not always true. In 1961 we built a huge venue with a retractable roof for use by the Civil Light Opera. Those days are gone but the Mellon Arena is still there. That is what the arts and a booming steel economy can do.
These are some of the coolest, most innovative sets I have ever seen. When I first glanced at the pictures, I thought that they must have all been CGI's. It always makes me really happy when I see theatre done in new, innovative ways. Of course, though, I would love to know what the budget for these productions are. I also wonder how the actors can shine within such large, attention grabbing sets.
I really love any kind of performance that happens against a natural backdrop. The visual of the sunset behind the show is a pretty stunning and impressive one. Additionally the sets that happen here are always incredibly spectacular. I'd love to go visit sometime, or maybe look into the work visa situation in Austria.
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