DNA - Dennis Kelly

The play was performed in a triple bill with two other plays so the director (Paul Miller) chose to have an empty stage for quick transitions.

SFX were used to show the passing of time rather than a soundtrack

Staging:

• End-On

Set:

• Each location had close up footage of the location filmed and projected (so that the background wasn't static or too distracting)
• The street was created with an isolated ***** of light downstage
• The woods were created with a blue wash creating a cold and tense atmosphere

Costume:

• The characters wore school uniform with a jacket or hoodie to show the character's personality

• deceit
• friendship
• gangs
• responsibility
• power
• childhood
• violence
• human nature
• fear
• isolation
• hierarchy

Costume:

• school uniform

-> dark hoodie / jacket each which is done up, undone or tied around waist to reflect the season

- the dark colour makes them blend in as neither Mark and Jan stand out often

• school uniform

-> blue hoodie / jacket (Phil's darker than Leah's) each which is done up, undone or tied around waist to reflect the season

- the blue represents isolation as Leah and Phil are more isolated from the rest of the group (Phil stands out over Leah)

• Phil

- a plastic bag filled with food

• Leah

- Tupperware with a dead hamster in

• school uniform

-> orange hoodie / jacket (John Tate's brighter) each which is done up, undone or tied around waist to reflect season

- the orange represents danger and makes them stand out (John Tate stands out more as he is more important

• school uniform

-> purple / blue hoodie / jacket which is done up, undone or tied around waist to reflect the season

- bluey colour links him to Phil - colour makes him stand out - purple represents power

• school uniform

-> yellow hoodie / jacket (Cathy bright, Brian pastel) each which is done up, undone or tied around waist to reflect the season

- yellow really stands out and highlights that they are odd

-> Brian in bobble hat

- makes him seem childish

• school uniform

-> missing shoe

-> dirtied and ripped clothes

-> blood and dirt on face

- has sustained head injury and has been living in the woods

The Street

• car noises (recording)

The Field

• wind noises (recording)

The Wood

• silence - isolated

The Street

• white spot - mimics a streetlamp -> artificial

The Field

• orange / straw wash - mimics sun -> brightness reflects season

The Wood

• dim green wash with leafy gobo

The Street

• zoomed in projection of a street curb (video not image)

-> changes to reflect season

The Field

• zoomed in projection of a fence (video not image)

-> changes to reflect season

The Wood

• zoomed in projection of a wood floor (video not image)

-> changes to reflect season

Sound

• low pitch jarring 

Lighting

• bright red wash

Set

• characters behind the screen to cast silhouettes

-> in groups to represent relationships between characters

-> characters missing if they are missing in the play

End On (original performance)

• screen projected onto at the back of the stage

Thrust

• screen projected onto at the back  of the stage

Traverse

• screens projected onto behind audiences 

In the Round

• walkway behind audience where actors stand if not onstage

With group:

• closed gait

-> crossed arms
-> crossed legs

• little eye contact
• uneven pace

With Mark:

• more eye contact
• sturdier stance