Finding the pieces: solving the theatrical puzzle from page to stage

When asked why I chose to become a theatre designer and what interests me in following this career path, I always give the same answer: I love to solve puzzles. As a theatrical designer it is my job to sift through the text of the play and pull out all the pieces needed to put together the puzzle that is the physical world of the play. Through literal information found in the script and through context clues, the job of the designer is to build a tactile world for the text to live in. This can be literal - building a living room on stage or putting a character in a script specific costume, or it can be symbolic - creating an abstract world or fantastical costume that best serves the emotion of the play rather than the physical realities. This is something that is discussed with the director and other designers and through collaboration, an entire universe is created onstage. It is a wonder to create an entire world only to have it disappear after a few short days after the show closes. The role of the designer is to create a temporary form of art that can help the written work of the play and the work of the actors shine. But this impermanence is one of the great joys of design, it allows one to study different art forms, research different time periods, and become a jack of all trades.