Live Design: At Soulpepper, a Toronto-based theatre company that brought several productions to New York this summer, design becomes part of the agenda in the rehearsal room. Designers build new work from the ground up with directors, writers, and actors. “It’s really an attempt at a holistic approach to theatre-making,” says resident designer Lorenzo Savioni.
1 comment:
Overall, I love the way Soulpepper functions as a company and the way they balance creativity and limits. With all the challenges involved, I completely agree with what is said in the article in that their method would not work in a new company. This model depends on trust and knowledge of how other people work. However, when it does work their philosophy seems highly effective. In particular, I am attracted to the idea that, “Design is not the icing on the cake; it’s an ingredient in the cake.” Even when the design is minimal, it is a conscious choice and a key aspect of the production. Sometimes you see shows with low budgets, and it seems as though the design is only there because they have to have light and something onstage. The idea of design being an ingredient is essential to all theater because design places the production, but also visually indicates the environment.
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