Die Vogel
Designed for proscenium arch staging
Opera by Braunfels
Conceptual Design Project
Director: Polly Graham
Designer: Rose Thomas
Photography: Happenin Studio
My conceptual design of 'Die Vogel' explores the human corruption and destruction of the birds habitat.
The birds are living on a wasteland littered with plastic trash, with costumes using scraps of textiles and plastics instead of feathers.
At the start of the process, I had a listening session while reading the libretto, making notes about character analysis, visual themes and locations.
I then created a detailed costume plot and scene breakdown.
I set up a Miro board to share visual references with the director.
This was a useful tool to figure out the world of the opera and the ways in which the birds could become human in a contemporary context.
Masks and headpieces were a key feature in the design- I was interested in designing pieces that could be worn by singers while also partially covering the face.
I created moment sketches to visualize key scenes, using charcoals and chalks to illustrate movement and texture.
Part of the project included a make, so I chose the Flamingo character as I felt the headpiece would be a good opportunity to learn new skills and create a large scale costume prop. I used recycled materials to reflect the themes in the opera; you can read more about the make here.
