Back from a great trip to Cuba to help set up for a workshop production of Carmen Jones directed by Chris Renshaw, who directed Zorro. What began as Sykpe calls and sketches hastily executed during the Tec of Libertine for help over how to create a basic playing space, seems to have evolved into a fully fledged design. I was soon on site painting with chalk water and pigment, as binder and paint are in short supply, and scavenging for rusty metal sheet and nails from around the venue to create the environment.
Chris had found a fantastic venue; an abandoned docks building on the edge of the old town, concrete pillars framing a distant view to the ocean. I spent most of the time persuading the team to trust in the space for the showing, not to try and think too naturalistically but let the venue determine the aesthetic, leave as much exposed as possible; the band, singers , props etc. to let the raw magic of the Cuban dance breathe in this industrial space ,even if it is miles away from the chic pre revolutionary Havana in which the piece is set. It was great to work alongside Cuban Artists in set and costume and humbling to realise what they can achieve with such limited budgets and resources. The showing is in mid June and who knows what may happen after ? Some good footage here from The BBC
workshop for Carmen Jones Cuba design by Tom Piper
Carmen Jones,Cuba, Directed by Chris Renshaw. Environment design by Tom Piper
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