breaking character
challenging the conventions of theatrical space
An arrangement of dioramas sit nestled in a grove of trees on the West Lawn. These brightly colored objects separate themselves from the richly textured landscape of the Ragdale Campus while remaining grounded by a series of stepped platforms and projections. The arrangement of these elements sit within an implied circle which relates to Shaw’s original Ragdale Ring. A series of strewn stair-like objects are able to move freely around the installation, allowing performances, or fragments thereof, to be adjusted in their own preferred way.
breaking character seeks to challenge the conventional relationship between performer and audience by blurring the hierarchy between stage and house. Platforms and dioramas alike can function as both playing space and spaces for audiences to gather. By flattening the division between the two elements which have historically defined theatrical space – this proposal dismantles the fourth wall and challenges both artist and viewer to rethink their relationship to each other, the performance, and their surroundings.
Four dioramas present themselves as extruded primitives on a painted ground which functions as the underpinning of the project. The dioramas are articulated by bright colors, playful crowns, and a series of unique apertures informed by sightlines. Each opening has the possibility to serve as a window into performances, allowing an audience member to take ownership in their perception. These openings are covered in a fibrous turf which adds to the tactile whimsy of the proposal. Through these articulations, each diorama begins to assume a “character” which informs the way spectators interact with the architecture surrounding them and how performances are programmed.
A series of flattened backdrops correspond to the dioramas found on the Ragdale campus and will be used for satellite and pop-up performances in the Chicagoland metropolitan area. These backdrops will feature a large-format QR code for audience members to scan – linking them to the story of each diorama’s character, subsequent and other satellite performances, and information on the full experience at the Ragdale Ring.
Special care has been taken for each component of the installation to perform multiple functions. Through a conscientious reduction of parts, an economy of design is employed to build something complex through simple construction techniques. All materials will be carefully sourced with attention to recycled content and renewable resources. Following the installation, the fabrication team will disassemble breaking character and recycle its materials. The team intends to donate dioramas and step-units to underserved community institutions including, but not limited to, local churches, theaters, schools, and libraries. Pieces that cannot be recycled in whole will be dismantled and donated as raw materials for these institutions to use how they see fit. It is our hope that the proposal will live a second life and continue to serve local communities.
breaking character seeks to challenge the conventional relationship between performer and audience by blurring the hierarchy between stage and house. Platforms and dioramas alike can function as both playing space and spaces for audiences to gather. By flattening the division between the two elements which have historically defined theatrical space – this proposal dismantles the fourth wall and challenges both artist and viewer to rethink their relationship to each other, the performance, and their surroundings.
Four dioramas present themselves as extruded primitives on a painted ground which functions as the underpinning of the project. The dioramas are articulated by bright colors, playful crowns, and a series of unique apertures informed by sightlines. Each opening has the possibility to serve as a window into performances, allowing an audience member to take ownership in their perception. These openings are covered in a fibrous turf which adds to the tactile whimsy of the proposal. Through these articulations, each diorama begins to assume a “character” which informs the way spectators interact with the architecture surrounding them and how performances are programmed.
A series of flattened backdrops correspond to the dioramas found on the Ragdale campus and will be used for satellite and pop-up performances in the Chicagoland metropolitan area. These backdrops will feature a large-format QR code for audience members to scan – linking them to the story of each diorama’s character, subsequent and other satellite performances, and information on the full experience at the Ragdale Ring.
Special care has been taken for each component of the installation to perform multiple functions. Through a conscientious reduction of parts, an economy of design is employed to build something complex through simple construction techniques. All materials will be carefully sourced with attention to recycled content and renewable resources. Following the installation, the fabrication team will disassemble breaking character and recycle its materials. The team intends to donate dioramas and step-units to underserved community institutions including, but not limited to, local churches, theaters, schools, and libraries. Pieces that cannot be recycled in whole will be dismantled and donated as raw materials for these institutions to use how they see fit. It is our hope that the proposal will live a second life and continue to serve local communities.
project information
location: lake forest, illinois
date: 2022
type: research, performance, scenic design, competition
credits
project team: abigail coover, jacob t. middleton, davis richardson
location: lake forest, illinois
date: 2022
type: research, performance, scenic design, competition
credits
project team: abigail coover, jacob t. middleton, davis richardson
breaking character seeks to challenge the conventional relationship between performer and audience by blurring the hierarchy between stage and house
an arrangement of dioramas sit nestled in a grove of trees on the West Lawn -- these brightly colored objects separate themselves from the richly textured landscape of the Ragdale Campus while remaining grounded by a series of stepped platforms and projections
three axons detail construction and potential performance arrangments
each opening has the possibility to serve as a window into performances, allowing an audience member to take ownership in their perception. these openings are covered in a fibrous turf which adds to the tactile whimsy of the proposal.
a series of flattened backdrops correspond to the dioramas found on the Ragdale campus and will be used for satellite and pop-up performances in the Chicagoland metropolitan area
following the installation, the fabrication team will disassemble breaking character and recycle its materials. the team intends to donate dioramas and step-units to underserved community institutions including, but not limited to, local churches, theaters, schools, and libraries