STUDY PROGRAMME
Scenography

AFAM CODE
ABPR23

DISCIPLINARY AREA
Scene design

DISCIPLINARY FIELD
Scene design

CREDITS
10

APPROACH
Theoretical/project based

The course aims at providing the students with advanced skills in stagecraft applied to theatre and set fitting. The two modules analyse different scene elements through practical examples of set creation documented through their construction phases, and the students will develop executive technical drawings for the production laboratories.

The total credits for this course are 10, divided as follows:

• THEATRE SCENE DESIGN: 5 CFA

• SCENE DESIGN TECHNIQUES: 5 CFA

Successful students will be able to:

THEATRE SCENE DESIGN:

• Have full command of the design opportunities offered by the scene machinery

• Understand needs and technical problems related to scenic movements on stage

• Create a scale model of the different technical elements of a stage

SCENE DESIGN TECHNIQUES:

• Be aware of the design possibilities offered by structures and construction techniques

• Assess the feasibility of a project

• Conceive a project in consideration of the many aspects related to its assembly

THEATRE SCENE DESIGN:

• Scene machinery

• Grid deck (detailed analysis of truss structures, ropes, counterweights, catwalks, flies...)

• Understage (different kinds of trapdoors, bridges, hatches...)

• Platforms, rails and wagons

• Construction of a wooden theatre on a 1:25 scale, complete

• with all technical moving elements

SCENE DESIGN TECHNIQUES:

• Analysis of the technical issues of the design phase

• Analysis of supporting structures

• Construction materials

• Cutting the elements to allow for their transportation and introduction into theatres and locations

• Assembly time

• Deeper study of previous students’ projects, for which architectural drawings will be created

This is a theoretical/project based course.

Over the course, the students will carry out the following didactic activities, which may vary depending on the projects to be developed.

• Front lectures

• Use of tutorials, videos or other multi-media material

• Exercises and revisions

• Laboratories

• Individual or group projects

• Individual or group study and research

Assessment tools may include:

• Oral exam

• Comprehensive projects

Further details about the exams will be provided by the professors.

The final grade will result from the weighted average of the programme modules.

• Copelli, G. (2009) Manuale pratico di scenotecnica, Bologna: Patron.

• Mello, B. (2009) Trattato di scenotecnica, Novara: De Agostini.

A lot of the referenced material, together with other in-depth study material, can be consulted online in MyNaba, in the Library section.

Further books and other recommended or required resources may be specified by the professor.