As part of the GCSE Performing Arts course, pupils have the option to focus on the crucial work ‘behind the scenes’ of a drama production. It is vital to accompany storylines with imaginative and appropriate set designs, to give audiences a truly memorable experience. A new learning aid was introduced to the Drama Department last term to stimulate pupils’ creativity and imagination in this area.
The ‘stage in a box’ is a small-scale replica model of a traditional theatre, which gives excellent flexibility to accommodate even the most elaborate set designs. Pupils can use the model to create the perfect set for their chosen productions, with individual elements fixed into place using magnets.
Numerous features can be manipulated depending on the requirements of the show. The set layout can be changed by altering staging, audience position, actors and props. Lighting can also be adjusted, which determines the visual experience audience members receive. The impact of shadows can often be utilised to great effect.
Drama teacher Miss Unwin commented: ‘The stage in a box tool is extremely useful for pupils who wish to experiment with different set designs. Rather than purely relying on their own imagination or drawings, the practical tool can give an accurate representation of what the full-scale production would look like. Pupils who choose to focus on staging will be able to incorporate the stage-in-a-box into their portfolios, by taking photos of their ideas. This will then contribute to their final GCSE coursework mark.’
