Production design (set and costume) for I am Not What I am: 'The Taming of the Shrew' and 'Twelfth Night' by William Shakespeare

Subtitled ‘I Am Not What I Am’ this project presents the uniquely twinned productions of ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ and ‘Twelfth Night’; two Shakespeare texts exploring mistaken identities, transformation and deceptions, and addresses the scenographic linkages between these two thematically linked plays; and how the layers of performance reality and technique can be supported or enhanced by visual and structural design ideas.

Produced by ‘Propeller’, the company Pavelka co-founded with Edward Hall (1997), which aims to mix a rigorous approach to the text with energy and speed. The designs Pavelka created in his role as production designer (set and costume) support the collapse of narrative lines to facilitate compression of story-time and provide integrated frameworks for the physical performances characteristic of ‘Propeller’, such as commentary on the narrative by a ‘spirit’ chorus and living sculptures. Scenographic ideas reference movies as diverse as Alain Resnais’ ‘Année dernière à Marienbad’ (1959) and Tim Burton’s ‘The Corpse Bride’ (2005). Performed at the RSC, as part of their ‘Complete Works’ season (2007) at the Courtyard Theatre with a UK tour, both productions have been performed, often as a double bill, in a season at the Old Vic, London before touring Europe, North America (including a residency at Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York), Hong Kong (2007) and Perth, Australia (2007).

Rehearsing in series rather than simultaneously, the design research and to some extent execution, pre-empted rehearsal development. The design process incorporates an appraisal of the matrix between the two plays and the physical discipline of making two variant design adaptations for conflicting configurations of stage format both here and abroad. The further employment of 3D modelling was assessed in order to gauge its application and flexibility under these testing conditions.

http://propeller.org.uk/productions/a-midsummer-nights-dream-and-the-comedy-of-errors

• http://www.propeller.org.uk
• http://www.michaelpavelka.com