Staging a Scene

Staging a scene

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This is a commonly-asked question so you should be prepared for it. Often you are given guidelines as to how many aspects of staging to include or what precise aspects you must include. As always, read the question carefully.

Set

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Does not need to be elaborate Simple backdrop A few pieces of furniture A prop or two

Stage positioning

Powerful character in a position of dominance?Isolated character standing alone?Would you have a tiered stage with a dominant character in a higher position than the other?

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Costumes and Make-up

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Colours can be very suggestive here.  Red - passion or anger White - purity or innocence Black - evil or power Yellow or greenish tinge - sinister and evil

Use plenty of adjectives to describe the costumes Torn, dishevelled, sleek, expensive, elegant, flowing, tightly-fitted, bloody etc. You could link characters by having them wear similar or complementary colours

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Standing proudly upright? Bent in humble submission? Exaggerated gestures? Whispering and creeping around the stage? Support every point you make with quotation from and reference to the play.

Posture, movement, voice

Facial expression

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Can tell us a lot about a character’s true feelings Smiling cruelly? Mouth in a hard line? Frowning?  Smirking? Smiling warmly? Etc.

Sound effects

Sound effects

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Music - could be romantic, sorrowful, dramatic etc. Choice of music shows you understand the mood Swords clashing Screaming Murmur of angry voices Etc.

Lighting

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Can establish mood / atmosphere Spotlights to pick out important characters Filters to create warm, glowing light Dim light to create menacing or eerie atmosphere