- You might get so caught up with a sketch that you wouldn’t change it, even if it was a problem with the space and its uses. With a minimal investment, it is easier to change and discard sketches.
- The thumbnails make it easier to compare and contrast ideas and find solutions. It is hard to see space relationships on a single sketch.
- By keeping it very simple, you see the big picture and the important relationships in the space. It is very useful to keep a sense of hierarchy and not over-detail your sketches.
Start with a small piece of paper, sketch the same stage (as very simple rectagles) 6 times. You’re just exploring stage composition and spatial arrangements. In each sketch include just the most important scenic elements, perhaps a platform, a large opening or a single wall. In each sketch, emphasize a different idea.
Look for different ways to:
- create a focal point or hierarchy of spaces.
- fill or empty areas, use or leave large empty areas or negative space.
- balance the stage composition, use different amounts of space above or below the horizon line, balance the elements with empty space on the opposite side of a composition, or add a tall element on one side balanced by lots of low elements on the other side.
- create acting areas – make one big area or multiple small acting areas.
Sketch just a few ideas, don’t polish, and move on quickly to the next idea. Try different ways of using stage depth.
- use scale figures to show where performers would go on each sketch. Sketch a few simple lines to explore blocking and movement. It may become apparent that a very dramatic element, such as a diagonal wall, could be very limiting on the performers’ movement.
- make sure there are clear sightlines from the house as well as across the stage. This is very difficult to do on a polished, pretty perspective. The simplicity of these sketches makes it much easier to see potential problems, such as a large central platform.
- explore entrances and space for important scenes. Sketch in a few pathways and you will see areas where performers cross. Do you have clear areas for important scenes to take place? Are there adequate transitions?
Look at your sheet of thumbnails from a little further away. What works well? Are the shapes clear? Do they lead you into the composition or are the shapes competing in importance? Are there too many shapes or areas of interest competing in importance? Choose the 2 or 3 thumbnails that might work best and sketch them again on a slightly larger sheet of paper.
Again, keep the focus on space. Sketch in the important lines for actors’ movements and sightlines and some small figures for scale. Add stage depth by pushing some elements upstage. Still avoid materials and texture – just sketch in some shapes that might be walls, doors, a staircase, etc.