Enchanted: A twisted Steampunk Pantomime

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The Mood board:

I created a mood board to bring to the first meeting to help me and the Director (Jack Maurice) visualise Ideas and what we wanted. I went through the script and created a board for each scene change and the mood

Copy of “Enchanted”

First Sketches:

This was the first sketch I made while I was in that first meeting with my Director. While we spoke about what we wanted I drew this to visualise what he said.

This was helpful for us both having a visual guide to what we were talking about. I then did a rough ground plan to clean up the concept.

Sketch #2:

This was the cleaned up sketch I did as the initial ground plan. I sent this into the production group chat as a visual guide for the tech, in particular Lizzy. (The lighting designer).

Jack told me he also found it incredibly helpful as he could show the cast where they would exactly stand on the stage.

The Sketch Up file to my Sketch:

This was the sketchup file made by our production Coordinator Tom Hatch. He created the base using my drawing as a reference.

Using this image I started to create my own version, I wanted to create a detailed version with my design details.

Sketch #3:

Here was the version I created. Using the sketchup files and my own drawing I created this and sent the progress into the group chat.

The next issue I faced was coming up with the colours…

Sketch for the Clocktower:

Here is the first proper sketch of what I wanted with the clocktower. I had this idea to use scaffolding and cogs around the tower to make it look like it was under construction.

Me and Jack loved the idea of the whole town looking like it was under construction and being rebuilt as if it was “Ever after”.

The Colours:

While trying out some things I realised that the Mastic floor Jack initially wanted may not work as well! So I sent him a message over teams and gave him a few different options. We ended up having a meeting and settling on the Darker middle with a lighter grey outside.

This presented a new problem, the set would have ended up being mostly grey and too boring! So I had to sit down and think. I ended up coming up with the idea of using an oxidised copper roof and adding that to some of the cogs. I tested the idea and Loved it! As did Jack!

Final Design:

With this design it combines all of what I loved most about my reference images. The cobblestone I used, inspired by “Old town” in Gamla stan, Stockholm. The copper cogs and mint oxidisation give a pop of colour and a feel that the town is aging and is long lasting. All of the colours I chose were colour picked from their product pictures. I also added in a concept for creating Rapunzel’s braid out of rope and adding flowers in it!

The Ground Plan:

This was the ground plan I made of the set. It was created using QCAD.I found this very tricky and hard to figure out initially but I soon got the hang of it.

I created the ground plan to assist us during the get in, the ground plan having precise measurements. I also created it to help the Lighting Designer (Lizzy) so she could use it to create her LX rig plan.

Making The Clocktower:

To create the clocktower I drew the feathered shape of the roof, and cut it out using a Jigsaw.

Me and the Production Coordinator (Tom Hatch) then built the frame for the Clock tower head and body, and used a router to cut the opening for the clock face. The clockface was bought for Enchanted and was rigged with motors so the hands could move and be stopped.

Making the Set:

We took over the theatre to be able to completely paint all of the cogs, cladding, vacform and the clocktower. As seen below:

Clock Face:

The Clocktower Roof

SR Archway

I wanted to make sure the bricks looked aged and worn. I feel that the broken up bricks with a darker inside created more depth and a greater impact.

I sent everyone off into groups to cover different sections while I helped and supervised all of the sections. Everyone followed my instructions perfectly and did everything without complaint.

Creating the proscenium arches:

The proscenium arches are an integral part of the set, basically shaping it all. I was most inspired by “Wicked’s” use of cogs in a similar way.

I loved the way it shaped the stage and how the cogs when layered have so much depth and could look like glitter or snow flakes. It adds this delicate quality to a harsh steampunk set. I use a similar Juxtaposition in the Costume design!

Painting The floor:

I began by drawing a huge circle in chalk and painting the inside with our “Bristol Steel” paint. Then I sketched out the shapes for the bricks and took a small team (Me, Casey and Josie) to paint in the bricks and add detail. Due to the limited time, we completed this during plotting, which did make it difficult to see at times.

The Final Set:

When decorating the set, Jack asked for it to look cluttered and the tops of the decking to look like an abandoned attic space. So I created layers using boxes, chairs and a mannequin for Rapunzel's area. As well as hanging a ladder to nowhere. I wanted to make sure the set had a lived in feel. I think It gave the set a certain charm, it was missing!

I am extremely happy with how the set turned out. I was so happy to see it during all of the rehearsals exactly how I designed it so many months ago.

It was a lot of hard work and stress but I believe it all paid off and I know It could not have been done if I didn’t have the support of the crew who did more than they had to, in order to complete this set.

See the Props & Scenery: for the other details on "Enchanted a Twisted Steampunk Pantomime" and the Costumes in... Enchanted: Twisted Steampunk Costumes

See my other set design for Seussical The Musical and...

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