Blog

Designing a production for six libraries across South London

Clapham Library

Clapham Library

So our design process for Reunion and Dark Pony is well underway! Our exciting Set & Costume designer Bex Kemp and I have started the process of thinking about how you design these plays for six different libraries! Read more about Bex’s previous work here.

We’ve been reading and discussing the plays, pulling out things we think are interesting and possibly useful to think about as well as visiting all of the libraries together. Each library is quite different so the plays will be a different experience in each library, each with its own problems to be solved and exciting, beautiful or unique elements to make the most of. We need to work out how the plays can work best in each of the six libraries to make the most of each individual space as well as telling the stories of these two plays as best as we can.

Durning Library

Durning Library

From the beautiful Victorian buildings like Durning Library with its imposing front to the modern glass Clapham Library with its hugely exciting spiral, hidden rooms and passage lighting, there’s elements in each of these spaces that will create an exciting environment for these unusual plays to be performed in. Personally, I adore the hushed quiet of the hidden away Reference Room in Battersea Library, the wicker chairs in alcoves between bookcases in Wimbledon Library and the vibrant café with its funky lighting in John Harvard Library. And as I’m just a big kid I want to play in ALL of the childrens areas…

We’ve found beautiful and fun elements in these libraries that we hope our audiences will notice and want to explore too – and we may just add a few extra…. You want to be told a story don’t you? Then come join us!

 

Joanna Turner
Artistic Director

 

Load More Related Articles
Load More By Joanna Turner
Load More In Blog

Check Also

Singing, dancing & sharing ideas for Street Opera!

Following our session with the brilliant Roehampton Base ...

Join our Newsletter

We won't spam you with emails. Maximum one a month but usually one every three months.

Reviews

  • It’s great fun, and Turner’s updating gives a ring of truth to the potentially farcical story.
    The Stage

Follow us on Twitter