What is scenery in a theatrical production? Stage decoration: what types of scenery are there? Virtual production design

1. Types of decorations by design qualities

Artistic image in scenography, as discussed in the previous chapter, it consists of many components; here we will look at the constructive components of the scenographic image. Historically, a whole typology of decorative solutions for theatrical structures has developed. The structure is the internal foundation, the skeleton, on which the expressive part of the design rests. Of course, the constructive part also has its own expressiveness, but this quality is not decisive. The typology of the constructive qualities of theatrical scenery considers it as a load-bearing element, and not as an expressive one. But without it, expressiveness cannot be ensured. First of all, the scenery is divided into two large groups by the nature of the materials from which they are made.

First group – soft scenery . They are stage decorations made from materials that do not have their own internal structural basis, so they are suspended. These decorations are made from various fabrics, thin plastics, nets, ropes, chains of everything that cannot stand on its own and must be attached to something. Soft decorations have their own varieties.

Backstage scenery can be detachable or lift-arched. Detachable backstage decorations consist of three parts for each plan (two backstage and one backdrop). The depth of the stage ends with a backdrop - a large panel hung parallel to the ramp, or a horizon hung in a semicircle or in the shape of a trapezoid (in plan). Backstage decorations are hung strictly symmetrically.

In theatrical performances of the baroque, classicist, romantic and realistic theater, they were painted and made from a variety of fabrics. The painting most often depicted various architectural spaces. In order for the viewer to have the impression that the interior has vertical walls and horizontal ceilings, the painting on each plan was necessarily illuminated, so as to “kill” the shadows from the previous scenes and arches. This work of light helped create the illusion of ceremonial palace interiors. Lifting-arched decorations are bracket-shaped panels hung on each plan, which are also accompanied by a backdrop or horizon. Lift-arch decorations are painted and depict arched architecture. They are also illuminated according to each plan in order to level out shadows and create the illusion of heavy architectural structures.

Gardens, parks, forests are depicted on stage using a grid, which is cut out in a shape reminiscent of the letter “G”. Two counter curtains of this shape are decorated with an appliqué depicting trees and bushes with dense foliage, made of materials of different transparency. Such scenes are hung very often (every 20 cm), and with the right lighting they create the impression of a brightly lit clearing in the forest through the foliage, through which the sun shines through. These decorations are complemented by fake bushes, stumps, walkways and a rug decorated to look like grass. The backdrop or horizon depicts the depths of the forest, a retreating road, a river bank... Backdrop decorations arose in the Renaissance and are still being improved to this day.


Decoration in cloth. This type of decoration is relatively young, originating in late XIX beginning of the 20th century. It was a time when the theater staged a lot mystical stories, fairy tales, where the character needed to unexpectedly and quickly “appear” or “disappear.” Here fabrics (and at that time cloth was very widely used) are hung completely randomly in the space of the stage. Symmetry is not required. Fabrics can depict interiors, landscapes, and various fairy-tale realities. This type of hanging of decorations helps to suddenly appear and disappear between the folds. In addition, the abundance of folds on the stage made it more ceremonial, elegant, and decorative, which was necessary for the Art Nouveau style that prevailed at that time.

Hard scenery known since ancient times, some of them existed in ancient theater. They are distinguished by their ability to bear the weight of the actor, props, and props. To do this, they have the necessary strength and stability, do not require additional supporting devices, and are able to stand reliably on the stage themselves.

Backstage scenery installed in the same way as soft scenes, symmetrically and according to plans. They are screens that can be either simple rectangular or complex in shape, depicting architectural details, bushes, etc. Screens can be in the form of triangular prisms rotating around their axis. Each face of such a prism bears a special image. Rotating these prisms allows you to change the picture on the stage. In some performances, the screens were replaced by backstage machines, which are stretchers passed through the stage plank through special slots, and moved along their own metal track in the hold. Such backstage machines made it possible to make a set up to five meters high and support the weight of the actor. The movement of the backstage machines significantly enriches the image of the performance.

Pavilion. This type of scenery appeared to serve realistic theater. After the curtain rose, the viewer saw an ordinary room with furniture, a chandelier, windows, doors, paintings, mirrors. The walls of this room are a system of stretchers covered with fabric painted to look like wallpaper or covered with wallpaper. Some of the subframes accommodate window or door openings with suspended windows and doors. To prevent the subframes from falling, slopes in the shape of right triangles, which ensure the verticality of the “wall” of the pavilion. Typically, pavilion stages are installed in the shape of a trapezoid (in plan) of three components. The fourth wall is a mirror of the stage. But there are pavilions made up of two walls and a ceiling. The walls are installed at an obtuse angle (in plan) and create a not very deep playing space. The “ceiling” of the pavilion can also be a system of stretchers, but in many cases, it is simply a fabric that is attached to a rod located behind the harlequin and thrown over the “walls” from above. It is then stretched and secured to the “handbrake bars” on the back of the “wall” stretcher frames.

Installation (design) – the youngest and most common type of decoration today. It was formed in the 20s of the twentieth century; the first completed version of the installation was presented in the play “The Generous Cuckold” by Vs. Meyerhold in 1922 (artist L. Popova).

The installation (another name for the structure) is a rigid structure on the stage made of any sufficiently light and rigid material. The installation is not removed during the entire performance. Her features:

a) several levels in height, which is necessary, firstly, to enrich the actors’ plasticity, secondly, for a more proportional solution to the height of the stage mirror, thirdly, to enhance the expressiveness of the scenographic image;

b) symbolic character appearance expressing the idea of ​​comedy. In the production of The Magnanimous Cuckold, the installation depicts the “undressed” mechanism of a mill laid on its side, which ironically symbolizes the “anatomy” of bourgeois love;

c) installation is an active decoration that pretends to become a character. In the example given, the small yellow wheel of the setup begins to rotate at the beginning, the development of the action leads to the rotation of the large red wheel, and the rotation of the largest mill wheel begins at the moment of climax. This rotating background “leads” the viewer’s emotions.

Installation should not be confused with layout. The model is an imitation of an object (porch, hill); it can also have several levels and is capable of bearing heavy loads. There are even working models that imitate the action of the object they depict. But the layout never carries the symbol.

Projection scenery appeared with the discovery of electricity and have been used in theater since the beginning of the twentieth century. Projection decoration is cheap, mobile, and can easily appear, disappear, or be replaced by another picture. Projection decoration is good for mystical performances, performances of fairy tales. Projection decoration is a projection of an image of a landscape, interior, or any object necessary for the action. In realistic performances, it can replace the risky work of actors, for example, life-threatening flights, falls are a moving projection image. This type of decoration is widely used in combination with other types. For example, it replaces part of the interior on the stage, or part of the landscape. Projection decoration requires very precise technical organization. The direction of the projection beam and the operation of the light on the stage must be especially adjusted to avoid overexposure of the image, unnecessary reflections and shadows. This type of set does not allow much light on stage. IN last decades The use of several projections at once in artistic design has become widespread, as theater performances, and concerts of various sizes. IN beginning of XXI century, holographic projection decorations appeared. They show quite convincingly the illusion of the volume of an object. This image may be moving. This type of decoration has a great future.

Volumetric decorations. This term on stage refers to the simultaneous use of any soft and voluminous hard decorations.

2. Describe the optical and psychophysical effects of orange and blue colors

Many of us very often hear the word "decor" V Everyday life. At first glance, this word is clear and implies the decoration of an object or item. But is this really so? Let's try to figure out together what it is like and what interesting things it brings into our daily lives.

Interior decor is the last and, one might say, the most pleasant elements of home improvement. The very first and most important thing in creating decor is drawing up a design project. The project should be created according to the preferences and worldview of the owner of the house, or it can be created using some souvenirs, things from travel, or some beautiful and cozy artificial objects, using original dishes and so on - it can be anything at your discretion. But the very first point in creating decor is a design project, which must be carefully thought out.

Then you will need to move on to choosing suitable furniture. By arranging furniture in the chosen style of the room, the designer will definitely help you choose the right lamps or other decorative items that will look stylish together with the furniture. You may also need additional sculptures or artificial things for decoration. Many options will be considered until the perfect decorative items are found.

Decor step by step

1). Style.

This is the main step in creating decor. When choosing a style, you need to think carefully about everything so that the decorative elements fit perfectly into the interior and there are no shortcomings. Which style is closer to you?

2). Color.

Considering the question of what decor is, Special attention need to be given color scheme. The colors of things that will be used as decoration are very important, so they should be selected based on the preferences of the owner of the apartment, the area in which the apartment or house is located, and most importantly, the style.

3). Furniture.

Having solved the problem associated with choosing a factory that produces furniture for the chosen style, you can begin to select the most suitable lighting fixtures, lamps, and chandeliers.

Most of the stages have already been completed, which means you can move on to choosing textiles: carpets, curtains, cushions for chairs, sofas, bedspreads, and so on.

In the interior, carpets are very important. Fortunately, in modern world enough big choice carpets, so choosing the most suitable one will not be difficult: they come in square, oval, and round shapes. Textiles are very important because they create comfort and a good mood.

4). Accessories.

Compositions of various plants and flowers are the best interior decorations. If possible, you can beautifully decorate the walls with ordinary living plants. If not, they can be replaced with artificial flowers. You can also create beautiful interior decor using various figurines, paintings and other items that will demonstrate the owners’ favorite activities.

- an interesting solution for any room

What is This is a great solution to decorate dull and gray walls, adding variety to the design of the room. It's very easy to do this yourself. You can even use ordinary stickers for this.

First you need to understand why it was needed and what types of decor there are. Let's collect all this piece by piece and create a specific ideological base - this will be the first step in decorating the walls.

Why did you need to decorate the walls?

First of all, this is art. Even without experience in drawing, you can do a good job of correcting the situation with dull walls. Every person is a creative person.

Secondly, by decorating the walls, we thereby correct significant or minor flaws.

Thirdly, wall decor creates comfort and a harmonious atmosphere around, and also emphasizes individual style owner.

Varieties of decor

1). Mirrors.

2). Paintings.

3). Ecodecor.

4). Various posters, photographs.

6). Metal.

Make it yourself or buy it in a store?

Making or buying is everyone’s personal initiative. Although, for example, if a thing can be created with your own hands, then you won’t need to buy it, and vice versa. But it’s better, of course, to try to show your talent in decorating the walls.

we already found out. Now is the time to talk about stencils and their main features.

What is special about stencils?

Decorative stencils are perfect for decorating a room, giving it style and creativity. They are an affordable and most popular way to decorate walls.

A correctly selected stencil will give the room not only style, but also a pleasant mood.

What types of stencils are there:

1). Volumetric ones, which are used to decorate walls.

2). Multicolor.

3). Reverse - great for bedroom wall decor.

4). Plain.

DIY decor. Photo of window decor

Quite a simple task. Usually all you need is scissors and paper. You can add ribbons, toys or candles to the snowflakes - and Christmas mood secured.

For example, using satin ribbons or beads you can create a special color scheme.

DECORATION(a term derived from the Latin word decorare - to decorate, the French equivalent of decor, Spanish - decorado, German - Buhnenbild, English - set), one of the ways to design performances in a modern theater. The main function of scenery in a play is to create an image of the scene.

Historically, decorative art developed during the Renaissance, in the Italian court theater (), but its elements were present in ancient tragedies Ancient Greece. The Renaissance was preceded by the scenery of area mystery performances, which recreated the canonical locations of the main plot of Christian mythology (paradise, Nazareth, temple, Jerusalem, palace, dungeon, sea, purgatory, hell), located along the same line (horizontally or in a circle) and shown to the audience all at once. In Italian palace performances of the 16th century. “set perspectives” were used to depict typical scenes of tragedy, comedy and pastoral. They were located in the depths of the stage and served as a picturesque backdrop for the actors. These decorations were static. When the need arose to show changes in scenes of action, they first began to use telariums (trihedral, and sometimes pentagonal, prisms. These designs were known in the ancient theater), which, when rotated, could show three, five or more different scenery. Then rocker mechanisms were invented ( cm. SCENES), which made it possible to increase the number of changing scenes of action many times over. The next step was the appearance of the backstage-arched decoration. It made it possible to create in the space of a box stage the impression of depth of the natural landscape, architectural landscape or interior depicted by the artist. From the end of the 18th century. to recreate the interior environment, the so-called pavilion decoration (three walls painted on canvas frames, cut through by door and window openings and complemented by a ceiling), and in the romantic theater of the 19th century. - a picturesque-voluminous decoration, consisting of painted and three-dimensional design elements and in this way conveying a greater impression of the reality of the picture of the scene of action created on the stage. Finally, in the 20th century, thanks to new technology, it became possible to depict the scenery virtually - using projection and then laser. On the other hand, set designers are increasingly using authentic things (pieces of furniture, tools, various household accessories, etc.) and natural textures (wood, earth, sand, water, iron, etc.) to create a feeling of maximum reality of the stage environment. ).

No matter how the decoration is created, it always remains an illusory image. Any attempts to overcome this illusory nature led to the abandonment of scenery altogether and to the staging of performances either in the surrounding real environment or in the space of an empty stage, designed for theatrical play. And although these kinds of locations are known much earlier than the scenery, they arouse increased interest modern masters. However, the decoration and present period continues to be necessary for the theater, giving the artist the opportunity to solve complex creative tasks and appeal to the audience because it reveals to them an image of the real life environment of the characters in the play or immerses them in the world of fantasy, imagination, and beauty.

Victor Berezkin

Every person has visited the theater at least once. Such events fill with emotions and give spiritual satisfaction. Surely everyone knows what scenery is, but few can imagine what theatrical performances would look like without them. But this element is mandatory to create the desired effect.

What is scenery

Each performance requires lengthy preparation. The scenery in the theater can be different, for example:

  • small fragments that create the right atmosphere;
  • large-scale compositions that give a sense of reality of what is happening on stage;
  • lighting effects created using spotlights and similar equipment.

In any case, it is not difficult to understand what scenery is. Thoughtful compositions can consist of various parts and elements, which in general makes it possible to create the picture that is needed for a full perception of the action conveyed by the actors.

Why decorate the stage

Knowing what scenery is, you can understand how necessary they are in any performance. Without certain props, the picture will be incomplete. And it’s easier for actors to convey emotions when the necessary atmosphere is created on stage. Even a child knows what scenery in a theater is, however, it is worth considering in detail the question of for what purpose and why they were invented.

Of course, professionally performing actors can convey the necessary emotions to the audience even without additional compositions on stage. But the scenery in the theater will help:

  • fully immerse the viewer in the plot;
  • to give the actors the opportunity to fully convey the essence of the production;
  • create the mood for the performance and open up the horizons of creativity for those who design the stage for performances.

Having learned what scenery is, a person will pay more attention to it when visiting the theater. And he will also understand how important stage decoration is. After all, we all want the actors to maximize their talents and inspire those who came to see their performance.

A theatrical production is created from a huge number of important elements, including not only the play and actor play artists. No less important for the success of the performance are the decorations, the main role of which is to create space for the action taking place on stage. Theatrical scenery is an indispensable attribute of any production, which gives it a special charm.

What role do theatrical scenery play in theatrical and decorative art?

Theatrical and decorative arts, otherwise called scenography, is one of the specific types fine arts. Its main purpose is to visualize the environment in which the events in the play take place and the appearance characters. For this purpose, theatrical scenery and costumes of the characters are created. Equally important are design elements such as proper lighting and props. All these means are combined into a single whole, conveying the nature of the action and the intention of the entire performance. It can be said that the creation of theatrical scenery has the same ancient history, like the theater itself. Decoration very quickly became a permanent attribute theatrical performances, and now we practically cannot imagine a performance on an empty stage.

Decoration must create an image of the place and time to which the action in the play relates. The composition of theatrical scenery, their color scheme and other characteristics depend on many factors. In addition to content, these include the speed of changing the scene of action, the peculiarities of the perception of objects on stage from the audience’s point of view, the possibilities and features of lighting, and much more.

Before the stage space is designed, it is necessary to create sketches of the theatrical scenery. It is at this stage that all the details of future decorations are worked out in order to achieve the greatest expressiveness and integrity. As for the masters of stage design, their sketches are considered not only as a basis for stage design, but also as an independent piece of art, distinguished by the author's style and originality.

Theater scenery consists of many parts. These include framing elements, a curtain, objects on the stage, as well as backstage, background, etc. Theatrical scenery is created in several ways, in particular with the help of images and three-dimensional details. In Russian realism, pictorial elements are predominant. It is very important that planar elements and volumetric objects together create a holistic and living picture places of action. In addition to the basic, traditional ways of depicting the environment, new and modern ones are emerging. Among them are projections, screens, draperies and much more. However, modern methods stage decorations have not replaced painting, which is present in one way or another in almost any scenery. The variety of forms of creating reality only allows specialists to choose the most suitable ones according to the content and style of the performance.

Costumes are no less important, thanks to which the images of the characters are created. The possibilities of the costume are very wide: it can tell about the hero’s social affiliation, his nationality, profession and some character traits. The style and color design of the costumes should be similar to the theatrical scenery. In ballet performances, they are also subject to a practical task: they must be comfortable and suitable for dance movements.

Main types of theatrical scenery

Highlight two kinds scenery for theatrical productions: hard and soft.

Hard scenery are also divided into a huge number of varieties. First of all, they are voluminous, semi-volumetric and flat. They also distinguish between staged scenery, with which the actors interact during the performance (pieces of furniture, stairs, trees, etc.), and non-staged scenery, which only serves as a background.

Theatrical scenery of this type is made mainly from coniferous wood. This material is characterized by a fairly low price, as well as wide possibilities in terms of processing for creating certain objects (painting, pasting, etc.). Metal structures are also used if necessary. For example, steel and duralumin pipes are widely used. They allow you to create contours complex drawings(both planar and volumetric), stairs and decorative machines. In this case, the use of metal is practically the only option for creating decoration. Among other things, metal objects are lighter in weight.

Soft decorations They are divided into pictorial, applique, draped and smooth.

The variety of materials used is very wide: almost all types of fabrics are used. Theatrical scenery is made from canvas, velvet and tulle. Synthetic and non-woven materials are also actively used.

The basic techniques and rules according to which theatrical scenery is created were developed at the dawn of this art. Nowadays, the basis of most rigid decorations is still the decorative frame, invented more than a century ago. With its help, a huge number of design elements are created, in particular walls and ceilings. The principles of sewing backdrops and drawstrings have also changed little.

There are many ways to create theatrical scenery, and it is not possible to describe each of them. The search for new methods of stage design does not stop to this day. Although, of course, all innovations are based on those principles and schemes that were developed and put into practice long history theater

What types of theatrical scenery are there depending on the content?

  1. Narrative

Such theatrical scenery involves the artist creating a real space for the characters to act. Thanks to him, the stage becomes the place where the characters in the play live and act.

  1. Metaphorical

This type of scenery does not include specific pieces of furniture or the space surrounding the characters, but it helps to convey the spirit and character of the production. The specialist strives for this goal by creating plastic metaphors. Exist different ways creating metaphorical settings and opportunities for them to interact with characters.

  1. Picturesque

This name does not mean the visual characteristics of theatrical scenery, but the fact that painting is the main method of creating them. For the most part, these will be flat decorations onto which the artist applies different images. Firstly, it may be an attempt to depict a real space (landscape or interior) without using three-dimensional elements. Secondly, it may be some kind of conventional background, one way or another suitable for the meaning and idea of ​​the performance. art can help with minimal means, but at the same time convey the spirit of what is happening on stage as accurately as possible with the help of background images.

  1. Constructivist

Constructivist-type theatrical scenery is very suitable for some modern performances. They do not depict the action space in the traditional sense, but only provide a certain structure for the actors. For example, these could be several sites different heights, between which the characters will move using stairs.

  1. Architectural-spatial

In such sets, the most important element is the stage space. The structure installed on the stage treats it as a neutral background. In this case, the action is focused on the structure itself, which at the same time makes maximum use of the depth of the scene.

  1. Dynamic

In many ways, dynamic theatrical scenery is similar to architectural-spatial scenery, since in both cases the basis is movement. However, they highlight separate species design of the stage space, called dynamic, based on such a criterion as the function of movement. In the previous type of scenery, movement is intended to unfold a single installation in front of the viewer, but in this type it is understood that movement is the central means of expression on which the entire performance is based.

  1. Light

In general, light transforms any theatrical scenery, so mastery of this tool in scenography is very important. However, professionals understand that light can act not only as an auxiliary tool that helps to correctly present the scene design. In some cases, it can play one of the leading roles along with other design methods. This is how we can talk about “scenery”, the means of creating which is lighting equipment.

  1. Projection

IN modern theaters theatrical scenery created using special equipment is used. In this case, it is not the skill of the artist and architect that comes to the fore, but the quality of the projection equipment and screen. Their advantage is the ability to completely replace three-dimensional decoration.

  1. Gaming

This type of theatrical scenery arose a long time ago, when theater as an art form was in its infancy. The heroes of that time were traveling actors who showed their performances at various city venues. Naturally, they could not create a complete and complete stage design. The basis of the scenery were objects that were part of the plot action. The actors themselves brought them to the stage, changed them, improvised with objects, etc.

  1. Off-ramp

This is a unique subspecies of play scenery designed for off-ramp performances. It is assumed that the stage space is in auditorium. In its pure form, this form of decoration is not often used. Different kinds scenic design intersect and interact, each time creating something original, so the primary properties of various means can be difficult to analyze. However, it is worth highlighting various shapes theatrical scenery to show the variety of stage design techniques.

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