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In Production

Theatre 8 makes every effort to provide its audiences with the best quality shows it can. A major contribution to this is all the work done behind the scenes. Before any show is performed, months of set design and building, prop making, costuming as well as rehearsals take place. These pages will allow you to see some of our shows as they develop, as well as detailing our past shows. Each show is unique in its requirements. At the bottom of the page you will find a link to our past shows where you can see how previous sets were built and details of some of the special props that had to be made, or wardrobe details.

Our next show is 'Summer of the Seventeenth Doll', by Ray Lawler. Ray is very specific about the setting of this play which is in 1953 in a Melbourne townhouse. It is clear that the townhouse is one of the many 19th Century houses that can still be seen today and probably terraced. This is essentially a static set, i.e., no set changes, but as some scenes involve interaction with areas outside of the house it presents it's own set of problems.

Sets are basically built with large 3 metre by 1.2 metre flat frames covered in either hardboard or canvas. Because we are a simple lot these elements are, in theatrical circles, called Flats. All sets use these basic components, however most sets also require a certain amount of newly built items or elements which can be re-used for future productions.

Sunday18th December - the stage is marked out for the new construction.

In terms of what we call Blocking, that is, working with the actors where they need to be and what they need to be doing throughout the play, marking out the stage at least allows the Director to start this process early on even before the first Flat is installed. Here we see what will be the front door and a second shot from Stage Front looking along a cutaway wall and up what will be the porch.

This shot shows the Deadwood Dick background as painted by Michael MacGillivray. Since the background is not required during this next production the painting has a reprieve! The piano is placed where it will be once the set is built. The chairs are positioned roughly where the settee is likely to be.

Damien Long on Set second day of build. The magnificent staircase was constructed by Phil Taylor. Ultimately it will be blocked in and flats will be installed to complete the hallway.

At the end of the second building day, the staircase is installed, the hallway is now defined with a wall, the floor has been painted and the porch area has been delineated. The front door frame is now also in. All the flats still bear the colour schemes of past plays.

Day Three - the sash window has now been installed with the cutaway wall. Staircase now also blocked in. An archway will complete the space leading to the hall and at Stage Left (Right in pic) a small French door has yet to be put in leading to a garden.

REHEARSALS