CHAPTER 20

Designers of Dreams

 

 

 

“We are the music-makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams. We are the movers and shakers of the world forever, it seems.”

Arthur O’Shaughnessy, British poet (1844–1881)

 

When you think about it, designing for the theatre is a bizarre activity. We read a playwright’s words, describing a group of characters wrestling with unusual circumstances. These characters are caught off guard, so we witness them struggle to deal with the consequences of their problem. Yet, it is an imaginary problem, dreamed up by our playwright. So, we designers read about the characters’ struggles, then take those words, discuss them with our collaborators, and work as a team to create a world where our particular imaginary characters, ...

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