So, I have been a little quiet on the blog posting front, but this time, because I've been busy on designing a new play 'Peacocks' by Shazia Ashraf.
'Loosely based on Shakespeare’s Othello but set in modern-day Bradford using historical figures from the time of Mughal India, Peacocks follows Khurram’s struggle from reluctant Prince to proud Emperor. Peacocks explores ideas of social acceptance and how we can succumb to presumptions about gender, race and status.'
It was a really quick project to be involved with - hence the very wobbly model, as shown beneath. Rehearsals started 3 weeks before the performance, and I started work a day into these rehearsals. Efficiency was definitely key on this project! Alongside my assistant, also called Hannah, we had to devise a way to try and evoke the different worlds that the story sat within.
In the end, we conjured the essence of sumptuous royalty by giving my garden gazebo a bit of a makeover...
A Peacock throne also needed to be made, in a very art attack style. Lots of paper mache and glitter was involved.
The peacock throne in its position on stage
And before glittering, in our makeshift workshop.
Another prop make needed to be the Peacock Pound. This was quite a bit of fun to make, and really helped set us in this new, abstract world, where characters from Mughal India sit in modern day Bradford.
And here's a few of production shots from the performance.
I also stage managed this show, with lots of help from Hannah, my assistant, and run the sound for the show too. All in all, a very busy, but good fun 3 weeks was had by all!
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