Episode 01 - Scenery

For this episode I wanted to share a recent example of a low budget, scenic solution for temporarily changing the wall colour in a performance space using non-digital means. Often, with independent, low budget venues I find access to the performance space before and after a production is never long enough, most of the time this is because these spaces are in such high demand. So, when the director and I settled on an all-white set and the first option was to re-paint the black interior of a recently renovated 19th century building (aka La Mama HQ), I decided to look for alternatives.

With a little over 2 days to install the entire production, rolls of cost-effective recycled paper were the answer. Not only were they great value at around $5/10 metre roll (link to rolls), they also suited the aesthetic of our production perhaps better than paint. Plus there were no issues with multiple coats of paint, crumbling mortar or impossible crevices. Using the combination of a staple gun, heavy duty double-sided tape and the occasional timber batten, I was able to install within hours. Restricting white paint to a defined performance area on the floor also minimised disruptions to the bump-in process as well as indicating for both the performer and the audience likely performance areas and non-performance area. This was particularly helpful with this type of theatre (Naghali) that rarely recognises the fourth wall.

My favourite aspect though, was the time saved at the end, with less than 3 hours to bump-out the entire production, removing the scenery was both quick and easy as well as recyclable. Giving me and my hard-working theatre family more time to celebrate another great season.