Design elements

Set design

First-time set designer Beata Batorowicz needed to create a versatile set. The script demanded a versitile space; a classroom which could quickly change into a ship, a jungle island, a dark chamber and a rickety bridge. Beata is an exerpienced and acclaimed visual artist who was able to bring a special understanding to the needs of the play.

The world of the classroom needed to be based in reality but lend itself to a hyper-real state that is the world of the fantasy. This was assisted by the desks, chairs, and large door, all special constructed to be quite large and looming. Other elements, such as the waves and large clock, were specially constructed to represent the fantasy world.

The shadow puppets were specially constructed by a specific team, who created over a dozen plates to represent Tengu’s epic story of survival.

Costumes

Carolyn Taylor-Smith provides an exciting and colourful design for the play. The costume reflects the modern era in which the play is set. For the parent-teacher meeting, the four characters consist of Martin’s parents, Lily and Calvin, the teacher, Ms Duffy and the principal Mr Campbell. They wear double-stacked suits to give the impression of being taller and bigger than the actors playing the children characters in this play. Martin’s uniform is torn around the edges which suits his character of being a naughty but smart boy. His hair is spiky and untidy. Rose looks neat and clean in her uniform and is portrayed as a smart, well-mannered girl.

Since the play is set in the school, Martin and his imaginary friends are wearing the same uniform – like a uniform from a Toowoomba school but with slight differences to reflect their characters as Martin’s imaginary friends. For example, Wesley, the blue boy will be painted blue and Tengu, the ninja will be carrying swords.

The materials for the costumes are locally made of lint fabrics and the shoes are normal rubber shoes that complement the uniforms. The materials were purchased from fabrics shops in Toowoomba.

Lighting

The general concept of the play was developed by student lighting designer Ben Andrews, with young children in mind. Appropriate colours have been used to express the settings and emotions of the characters and to elicit the desired response from the audiences. For example, some of the colours include blue to represent the sky, black to express Martin’s negative emotions and green to illustrate the imaginary jungle scene.

As the play combines both imaginary and realistic situations, the scenes where the characters are in the real-world will be lit differently from the imaginary scenes. This will be expressed by using dull or minimal colours as well as shadows to represent the happenings of Martin’s real-life. In contrast, the imaginary world will be filled with explosions of different colours to show the comfort and happiness Martin feels when he assumes the role of Captain Pathos in this world.