Faculty Sponsor(s)
Tyrone Marshall
Location
Jereld R. Nicholson Library
Subject Area
Theatre Arts
Description
A Small Family Business is a dark farce by contemporary British playwright Alan Ayckbourn. Set during the height of Margaret Thatcher’s ministry in the 1980s, the play focuses on a straight-laced man’s struggle to keep his family and his business in line. Hijinks quickly ensue as the situation spirals out of control and the characters are sent scrambling to contain it. In typical farce fashion, much of the comedy is driven by the characters’ interactions in and around the set. For this particular play, this involves a two-story suburban house with segmented rooms that serve as several different locales. In order to accomplish Ayckbourn’s specific stage directions, I designed a naturalistic, wall-to-wall set in proscenium. Each room is defined with distinct colors and patterns to divide the space and drive the comedy. The overall aesthetic emphasizes the decorating style of the eighties as well as providing a whimsical backdrop to Ayckbourn’s circus of events.
Recommended Citation
Garrett, Kelsey, "Scenic Design for A Small Family Business" (2015). Linfield University Student Symposium: A Celebration of Scholarship and Creative Achievement. Event. Submission 19.
https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/symposium/2015/all/19
Scenic Design for A Small Family Business
Jereld R. Nicholson Library
A Small Family Business is a dark farce by contemporary British playwright Alan Ayckbourn. Set during the height of Margaret Thatcher’s ministry in the 1980s, the play focuses on a straight-laced man’s struggle to keep his family and his business in line. Hijinks quickly ensue as the situation spirals out of control and the characters are sent scrambling to contain it. In typical farce fashion, much of the comedy is driven by the characters’ interactions in and around the set. For this particular play, this involves a two-story suburban house with segmented rooms that serve as several different locales. In order to accomplish Ayckbourn’s specific stage directions, I designed a naturalistic, wall-to-wall set in proscenium. Each room is defined with distinct colors and patterns to divide the space and drive the comedy. The overall aesthetic emphasizes the decorating style of the eighties as well as providing a whimsical backdrop to Ayckbourn’s circus of events.
