Performance designer Stephen Curtis

Whenever I go to the theatre, which is often these day, I typically get more from the set design than the actual story or acting.And Secret River, set designed by Stephen Curtis, was a fine example.  I sat there through out the play, mesmorised the ingenuity and beauty of the HUGE representation of a gun tree in the background.  Sculpture, performance, art and design - all my favourite things seem to merge. I have questions doing loops in my head: Where are the seams? How do they attach the bark "curtain" to the floor to look so string and stiff? How did they paint it without getting footsteps on the huge surface? And so on.It's the same phenomena which renders me stupid with Star Wars.  I find it remarkable that no matter how many times I watch Star Wars I still have no idea what happens.  I realise there are goodies and baddies and light sabers and cute robots all cruising around in space, but as far as any detail goes, I am too overwhelmed by the visuals to care.As a result every time I go to the theatre I start up the dialogue that tells me that I am on the wrong career path.  That I should have followed Set Design the whole time.  That my LOVE of making dioramas and mini things is no coincidence.  That my sense of play in the installation process is a tool and my focus on materiality is a rich vein to be mined....Perhaps it is time for a sideways shift.Here's a great interview with Stephen Curtis, thanks Fenella.