Romeo In Juliet

Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet is a famous love story written by William Shakespeare. A love story with twists and turns, conflict and tragedy. There have been many adaptations over the years. I will be reading the script for the original and adapting the story to fit modern issues. This story will then be made into a theatre production, and I will be the creative director designing everything from the scenography, to the costumes. This production will be taking place in the traverse theatre in Edinburgh.

Traverse Theatre site map. Not to scale.

The script I read prior to developing my own adaptation. Set in Juliet’s room, this production explores love, imagination and mental health.

Lighting and props are used to create shadows to set the atmosphere of each scene. Coloured filters are also used which helps the scenes grow increasingly dark and erratic as the show progresses.

There are several props which will change at the interval. The mood will change through the use of lighting with the props.

As Romeo is part of Juliet’s mind, he only appears as a shadow. This brown paper from inside a shoe box really inspired me in developing my own adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. It made me think about restrictive and strong material. The colour is very bland . It reminds me of a straight jacket and an asylum. This will become the set for my play.

Poster for my adaptation of Romeo and Juliet.

Juliet’s room. Balcony scene on top of room. Garden scene - Monologue narration. The backdrop and atmosphere changes.

Characters

Juliet - Has a split personality and schizophrenia - she speaks as herself and Romeo - Monologue narration.

Dr - Trying to help Juliet get better.

Nurse - Detrimental to Juliet’s treatment - encourages her love for ‘Romeo’

4 x Patients - Appear after the interval/prop change in a heated exchange with Juliet. Lighting props appear to change the atmosphere in Juliet’s room.

Costumes

Juliet wears a loose off white dress. It becomes clear in the 2nd half of the play that it is a hospital gown. The other patients that arrive in the 2nd half of the play also wear this costume.

Nurse wears dark blue trousers with short matching tunic.

The doctor wears formal wear, black shirt and trousers. Hanging objects on a wire frame with a timber base. Spotlights will be used behind this to crate scary scenes in Juliet’s room. Outside garden props appear. Using crunched brown cloth and wire cages. Juliet’s death, her bed disappearing under the curtain backdrop.

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1. Wire baskets - These are on a table at the side of the stage with spotlights inside. The wire creates shadows in Juliet’s room. 2. Isometric drawing of the hanging objects. 3. Rose will appear at the balcony scene, Juliet has an actual rose in her room. 4. Juliet’s bed. 5. 2 X wire cylinders - the opening scene these are filled with green scrap paper. After the interval they are filled with crumpled, ripped beige paper.

Romeo and Juliet - Part One

The story begins with Juliet in dialogue with the audience. The set is predominately white and well lit. Initially it is not obvious the extent in which Juliet suffers mentally with several disorders. These scenes, although pretty, gives an uneasy feeling between restraint and nature and the consequences that come with it.

The interval will last 15 minutes to allow the backdrop and props to be changed.

Creating a garden scene using paper and wire. The contrast of the 2 materials was interesting to work with. The cage is restraining the organic greenery. Making use of the space in front of the stage. This is where the ‘wedding’ will take place. The balcony scene will take place on top of Juliet’s room. Romeo appears to the audience as a shadow as an insight to how Juliet’s mind is working. This scene creates empathy for Juliet which will carry through the rest of the story. There is a ladder at the back of the room where Juliet will access the top. Juliet has come to the realisation her treatment is killing her love ’Romeo’.

Romeo and Juliet - Part Two

Model using yarn, brown paper, card and wire. 1:50 Juliet speaking directly to the audience using monologue narration. Juliet kills herself by continuously hitting her head on the wall in her room. She does not want to continue to receive treatment to ‘get better’. Red light is used to represent blood and pain. Juliet is found dead by the nurse and doctor. Coloured gel filters are used on the lights to achieve the lighting effect.

Sections

Section BB 1:100@A2

Plan

1 . LED Spotlight. High output, 3200K X 2 - table mounted (underneath the wire baskets) This creates lots of shadowed lines directed into Juliet’s room. Positions are changed manually.

B

4 3

5 2

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B A 2. LED Spotlight. High output 3200K X 2 - floor mounted - to cast shadows from the hanging objects and in to Juliets room, creating different atmospheres.

3. Fresnel Spotlights 3200K (existing light in traverse theatre) lighting the front area - evenly lit. The light focusses on Juliet whilst outside the room narrating the story.

4. Projector (to create silhouette) Balcony scene.

5. Wire standing structures filled with greenery initially, and after the interval it will change to dirty brown cloth.