Throughout this module we as an ensemble have had the opportunity to see some fantastic theatre companies come to the LPAC, and found this a really strong tool when it came to deciding what kind of show we wanted to debut as a company. Particular performances that really stood out for me personally where Focus Group, 1972: The Future of Sex and Wail. Being the set designer for the company I loved the simplicity and minimalism Toot used with the singular table used in Focus Group; with a filing cabinet set up downstage right of it. This simplicity made transition changes crisp and fluid by the effective readjusting of the table, from being stood at a 180 degree angle to a 45 degree. I was drawn to this set design in it being so straightforward, heightened by these changes being used by the actors, visual to the audience, watching the performance in a traverse staging.

This simplicity is also true of the Wardrobe Ensemble’s performance of 1972: The Future of Sex, the use of just a few chairs and a table where enough, when re-positioned to create a new environment. A personal favourite of mine in this performance was the bedroom and hallway of the character Anthony. The stage completely bare and the actor taking a few steps forward or back to create the illusion of speaking from behind the bedroom door as Anthony’s father; and then switching back into the bedroom to play Anthony’s reactions.