Comparison between Representational and Presentational in theatre set design

Designing a scene is a very challenging work for a designer. They have to make sure that all the elements of scenic design must be follow in order to have a good design. In designing a stage the designer have to consider about the line, mass, composition, texture and the color of the stage design. This will make the design very attracting and meaningful. Set design is very importance because it will help the actors getting their mood and n the other hand it will also support the story that they want to present. A set design must be suitable with the text that they want to play. In order to get this, the designer must put in his consideration about given circumstances that already in the text. Beside that there is one more thing that designer have to think in the process of designing a stage. It is to decide either that performance should used presentational or representational setting on stage. What is the difference between this two elements? I will discuss more on presentational and representational in this writing. I also will give a couple of image that can make we see the difference between this two elements.

Representational

Representational is a term which use to a theatre which tries to create an illusion of reality. According to Moises Kaufman:

“In representational theatre the artists strive to create a visual and performance reality on stage that tricks the audience into accepting the idea that what they are seeing is real. For the amount of time that you are in the theatre watching the play you accept that what you are seeing is real and is happening in front of you. The audience becomes a passive viewer of the experience that is happening to the characters in the drama. From time to time the audience may respond to what is happening (laughter, applause), but, for the most part, the audience is there to watch and, hopefully, be entertained, educated, enlightened, or moved by the performance.”

A representational set generally form a type of reality setting. For example, if there is scene in a living room the set must visualize like an actual living room. There must be a table, sofa, maybe some carpets and the texture of the wall of the set must convince the audience that it was a living room. Furthermore, the representational set is more suitable for a realism play. It is because in a realism play everything must be real. According to the essay What Is Realism? realism is the movement toward representing reality as it is, in art. Realistic drama is an attempt to portray life on stage, a movement away from the conventional melodramas and sentimental comedies of the 1700s. It is expressed in theatre through the use of symbolism, character development, stage setting and storyline and is exemplified in plays. Here are some example of representational setting in theatre :

courteous of http://homepage.ntlworld.com/stumarsh/ARSENIC.htm

Set design by Iain Aitken for The Threepenny Opera, 2000, Sydney Theatre Company Production. courteous of : http://www.hsc.csu.edu.au/drama/hsc/studies/brecht/2758/Brecht.htm 

Set design Dracula 3,courteous of :http://theatre5.com/alumni/Set%20design%20Dracula%203.html


 

Wajah Lumpur sketch, courteous of :http://vitaminisme.blogspot.com/2008/06/wajah-lumpur-dalam-persiapan.html 

            

Presentational

            Presentational is a term which use to emphasize theatricality and acknowledges the theatre as theatre. In presentational setting there is no illusion. According to Kaufman:

            ”In presentational theatre the settings may not be realistic, at all, and actors may be assigned a number of roles, often shifting from role to role with only the most minimal of physical changes. The audience is challenged to keep up with what is developing on stage as the story is told”

In presentational theatre, epic stories can be told with a minimum number of actors and a few costumes and props. The Laramie Project, by Moises Kaufman, is an example of presentational theatre. In this play a company of 8 actors play over 100 roles, often playing 2 roles in the same scene. The actors shift roles by changing vocal characteristics, costumes, or props. Presentational designs are used in multi-set musicals, plays with an exterior location, and the classical dramas of Shakespeare and Sophocles. Here are some example for presentational setting :

use of painted backdrop courteous of :http://blogs.laweekly.com/stylecouncil/2008/12/stage_raw_babes_in_toyland.php

courteous of : http://livedesignonline.com/theatre/seaside_setting_0401/

References :

(n.d.). Retrieved March 6, 2011, from http://www.lagcc.cuny.edu/laramie/presentational-theater.htm

(n.d.). Retrieved March 6, 2011, from http://www3.northern.edu/wild/th241/sc7.htm

Griffiths, T. R. (2004). Stagecraft. New York: Phaidon.

Kaufman, M. (n.d.). Retrieved March 6, 2011, from http://www.lagcc.cuny.edu/laramie/presentational-theater.htm