Rhyannon Richardson is a freelance theatre designer who regularly works with Mountview on our shows. We spoke to Rhyannon about the role of a set and costume designer and the inspiration behind her work on The Wolves.
How did you become a theatre designer?
I’ve been interested in three-dimensional and interior design since I was a child. At the time, I was also spending a lot of time watching my dad in his amateur dramatics shows. Although I wasn’t interested in the acting side, I was interested in applying my design skills in the theatre world. I studied design at college, while also working front of house at a theatre. When I finished training, I couldn’t initially find work as a designer so I worked instead as a scenic artist, before transferring back to design.
I’ve worked as a freelancer for most of my career, as I like having the opportunity to work on new things and have a lot of variety. I really enjoy working with students: they have so many new ideas and perspectives which I find really invigorating.
I’ve designed shows for Mountview since it was based in Wood Green. Some of my recent production highlights at Mountview include Swallows and Amazons, Tipping the Velvet and Red Riding Hood: A Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto. I love working at Mountview, as the training gives students a really good grounding in how things work and there are so many opportunities for students to explore different specialisms.
Red Riding Hood: a Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto, designed by Rhyannon Richardson, Photo by Danny Kaan.
What are the main responsibilities of a set and costume designer?
The designer has to make the set and costumes work with the script and the director’s vision of the play, on a practical and aesthetic level. They have to physically work and they have to look good. However, you have to be careful not to overwhelm the play. I like to think of the design as a supporting actor, rather than the main character. Audiences shouldn’t just remember the design, they should remember the production!
What inspired the set for The Wolves?
The Wolves is a bit unusual in that it has a very specific setting. It has to be set in a football stadium and we can’t adjust that. At the same time, we’ve had to be quite inventive with what we have. The setting is a massive indoor stadium, but we have to convey that in a small, intimate theatre space. It’s been an interesting challenge to try to create that sense of vastness within the Backstage Theatre.
We will be laying AstroTurf in the whole theatre. The audience will be seated in the round and as we want them to feel like they’re part of the action, their seats will be on the AstroTurf pitch too. We’ve also implemented really simple, effective ways of showing the audience where we are, such as drawing pitch lines on the grass or hanging an American flag.
Model Box for The Wolves by Set Designer Rhyannon Richardson.
What have you enjoyed most about working on this play?
When I first took it on and discovered it was about football, I thought ‘oh no’. When I read it, I realised actually it’s not about football! It was the script that really drew me into the production, as it’s such a fascinating, well-written and compelling play.
