Because of time pressures and limited resources teachers may need to suggest appropriate texts for individual students, perhaps giving students a choice of 2 or 3 plays.

The following suggestions may help students choose a play and then develop a design/directorial concept based on that play.

First reading

After the first reading of the text, students could brainstorm their initial response to the play.

They should consider some of the elements listed below.

• Main ideas

• Atmosphere

• Images

• Objects

• Style

• Context

• Characters

• Words

• Shapes and mood

• Setting

• Space

• Colours

• Tension

• Symbols

• Cast size

• Design ideas

• Thematic concerns

• Structural patterns

• Key moments

• Recurring images

• Possible directorial approaches

In one sentence students should sum up the central ideas of the play.

At this point students should also start collecting visual and research material which relates to their initial response.

Second reading

Once students have definitely chosen the text, they should spend time on a close study of the play, writing detailed notes relevant to the specific design area. Depending on the project option, these may include some of the suggestions below.

Directorial concept

Decisions must now be made about the production framework in which the designer/director is working. These can be informed by answering some of the questions and considering some of the ideas below.

• What is the text about? 

• Do I understand the play?

• What is to be the director’s approach to the text?

• What is to be emphasised in my imagined production?

• Is it to be a conventional or an innovative production?

• What type of theatre company or group is staging the production?

• Will it be a big or small budget production?

• Which performance space is to be used?

• Who will be the audience of the play? 

• What effect does the director want to have on the audience?

• How will the design elements enhance this intended dramatic meaning?

Costume

• List of characters

• Descriptions

• Status

• Dramatic action

Set

• Scene breakdown

• Locations

• Essential props/set pieces

• Dramatic action

Promotion and Program

• Key quotes 

• Themes

• Images

• Symbols

• Dramatic moments

• Colours

• Moods

• Target audience

Lighting

• Scene breakdown

• Practical requirements

• Mood

• Focus

• Effects needed

From these answers a directorial vision and/or design concept should emerge.

Directorial and design concept/vision statement

By this stage students should have decided on their design concept and/or directorial vision. This concept/vision needs to be appropriate and imagined for the whole play, even if the project only focuses on and deals with specific scenes/moments. It needs to evoke a clear, immediate interpretation of the text. A concept/vision statement should be written in full, describing the concept and the rationale for the artistic decisions.