What is Scenography?
Scenography is the art of creating performance environments; it can be composed of sound, light, clothing, performance, structure and space.
In Continental Europe where the term is widely used, the last thirty years have seen scenography move out of academic papers and find a home in the studios of theatre designers and the greenrooms of many theatres. Increasing numbers of theatre designers in the UK are also describing themselves as “Scenographersâ€.
In the USA however, the term has not been adopted with the same passion, perhaps due to fundamental differences in the way theatre in the USA is produced. On her website www.stephstuff.com, Stephanie A. Schoelzel (Scenographer and Costume Designer) describes heated debates over the use of the term and the unique differences between USA and European theatre.
Scenographer
Interestingly Stephanie describes herself as both a Scenographer and Costume Designer - in Europe the term “Scenographer†would perhaps suffice as most in the industry would assume that a scenographer would have a good level of expertise in not only costume design but its construction too. In the UK, an undergraduate student on a theatre design course would not survive for long without designing costumes, researching costume history and their construction, and more often than not getting to grips with a sewing machine. Then of course there is lighting, scenic painting and construction, props making, sound effects, puppet making and a whole universe of technical know-how. In most schools there are also complimentary courses in fine art, performance art, photography, graphic design, illustration and no doubt… time management.
Scenographers Tools
The required skills for any theatre designer or scenographer will of course vary depending on the production and the company for which he or she is working. A commercial production in the West End of London will quite likely have a designer and a costume designer and even regional theatre designers will on occasion be supported by an assistant designer or work in collaboration with a costume designer. However a young designer aiming to break into the industry will carry in their kit-bag a range of artistic media and skills; costume making, scenic art, construction, and of course a talent and ability to design a performance environment and costume.
External Link :
February 14th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
bonjour au bien bonsoir,
je suis un etudient de fin d’etudes en art aramatique option: Scénographie, et je vien de préparer mon mémoire de fin d’etudes sous le titre:” L’inportance du costume dans l’Etude scénographique” çi pour ce-là que je cherche la documentatoins sur ; La scénographie, Le costume,
Veuillez, Mes-dames, Monsieurs, mes salutations les plus respecteuses merçi d’avance
May 17th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Hi!
I actually have some questions… I’m a mexican student in Architecture, I’m about to finish my 5 years course, and I want to aim my studies towards scenography and performance production. I want to study a master in Europe since it has been for many years my wish and interest. But it’s been kind of hard for me to find schools with this kind of masters, except for Barcelona’s UPC where I’ve found a master related to museography, scenography and display.
I was wondering if you can help me to gain some information on UK schools that have this kind of post-g programs related to scenography.
Thanks in advance.
Octavio J.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Octavio : visit the SBTD Website (try google) and look at their training pages
October 3rd, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Hi,
I am really passionate about studying Scenography and am so inspired by the genre as it is not something offered in my home country of sunny Australia. I am having trouble finding courses in it though as I understand it is a bit of a niche market. I am cureently living in London but would LOVE to get out of here to another European city which offers the course. Vould anyone point me in the right direction?? If they offer the course in ENglish that would be brilliant but I will learn the language of required!
Thanks a lot in advance,
Cheers,
Susan
October 3rd, 2008 at 8:20 pm
To Ocatvio J and office,
In the Uk I have found two courses at Central St Martins and LABAN (focus on dance). Both are MA’s and go for a year.
HOpe this helps!
Susan
October 17th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Susan.. try DAMU in Prague and Institute of Theatre in Barcelona, cant think of any other off the top of my head at the moment sorry