{"id":27471,"date":"2016-05-01T18:23:28","date_gmt":"2016-05-01T10:23:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/?p=27471"},"modified":"2021-04-30T16:07:26","modified_gmt":"2021-04-30T08:07:26","slug":"better-by-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/better-by-design\/","title":{"rendered":"Better By Design"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Find out what it takes to design and build the\u00a0HOTEL<\/em>\u00a0you\u2019ll be checking into during the Singapore Theatre Festival!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ready, Set, Go!<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The stories in HOTEL<\/em> unfold in a room that sees its guests check in and out over the course of a hundred years. Every single piece of furniture, right down to the bedspreads and light fixtures, is carefully curated to reflect the architectural styles of each decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the little things you don\u2019t usually notice. Light fixtures change, and telephones were different at different points in time,\u201d remarks set designer Wong Chee Wai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But practicality takes priority over aesthetic concerns. \u201cAs much as I\u2019d like to have more decorative pieces for the set, that would mean having longer scene transitions,\u201d he explains. \u201cThat could disrupt the momentum of the show.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, props and set pieces are changed only if they help to further the story. \u201cWe have to ask ourselves questions like: \u2018Does this really need to be on stage? Is it being used, or is it purely for dressing?\u2019\u201d Chee Wai explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sounding Out<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HOTEL<\/em>\u2019s evocative opening number sets the tone for what\u2019s to come<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The music composed by sound designer Paul Searles was partly inspired by the creative team\u2019s research. \u201cThere was an amazing collection of historical writing \u2013 letters, articles and poems from different time periods,\u201d he enthuses. \u201cWe uncovered lots of beautiful rhythms in the language.\u201d These all served as \u201cgreat primers\u201d for HOTEL<\/em>\u2019s score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul found the most joy in playing with time and rhythm. As the play requires many different styles of music production, he first worked with rehearsal videos to experiment with crazier ideas. \u201cIt was really fun to help stretch and pull a very large story together in my own little way, messing with nostalgia, old and new,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let There Be Light<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Woan Wen\u2019s lighting tells a story through light and shadow<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Lighting is an indispensable component of every show. It influences everything from the mood of a scene, to how a character is viewed by the audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For lighting designer Lim Woan Wen, the historical arc of the show has greatly informed her lighting choices. She must keep in mind, for instance, how artificial light has changed in quality and intensity over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Woan Wen is also acutely aware of how important it is to design lighting that helps tie HOTEL<\/em>\u2019s 10 different scenes together. She says, \u201cWe have to make sure that these playlets flow in and out of transitions smoothly, without being all over the place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Big Picture<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Brian\u2019s projections usher us into the 1970s: an era of drugs, sex and fast living<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To depict the grand march of time across a century of Singapore\u2019s history, HOTEL<\/em> relies heavily on multimedia projections. These help to ground each scene in the iconic events of the corresponding decade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Multimedia designer Brian Gothong Tan spent hours poring over history books at the library and having long talks with the directors and scriptwriters to better understand the world of the play. \u201cI had to make sure the images I found resonated with and supported the narrative,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brian\u2019s favourite part of his designs? The wallpaper of the room, which changes from scene to scene. \u201cThey look really simple and unobtrusive, but a lot of research went into making sure that they were from that era and reflected the aesthetics of that period.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tailor Swift<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Theresa\u2019s costumes allow both actors and audiences to go back in time<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Costumes play a huge part in getting an actor into character. \u201cWe first decided to go with a more naturalistic style,\u201d reveals Theresa Chan, HOTEL<\/em>\u2019s costume designer and wardrobe manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The next step was to decide on the colour palette of each decade. \u201cApart from finding out which colours were more fashionable at that time, we also had to make sure it didn\u2019t clash with the lighting,\u201d Theresa explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s no easy task to accurately capture the style of each decade. \u201cIt can get very confusing because fashion trends can change within a few years, and each scene represents a decade in Singapore\u2019s history,\u201d Theresa laughs. \u201cSo there was a lot of reading up to do: not just about the clothing people wore, but also the materials used.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For HOTEL<\/em>\u2019s first run last year, Theresa prides herself on creating a hundred years\u2019 worth of costumes in just four weeks. \u201cI think that was my greatest achievement for 2015!\u201d she exclaims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quick as a Flash<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
13 actors + almost 100 characters = too many quick changes!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Imagine a cast of 13 playing close to a hundred characters over ten scenes. That\u2019s a lot<\/em> of quick changes, requiring everyone in the wardrobe, hair and make-up departments to work at a feverish pace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In HOTEL<\/em>, actors emerge on stage in staggeringly different hairstyles from scene to scene. It was a conundrum for hair designer Ashley Lim, who had to figure out ways to pull off the transformations in record time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI used wigs and buns with all the accessories already stuck on, so it\u2019s one entire headpiece,\u201d he reveals. \u201cWhen the actors come backstage, we shove it onto their real hair, and they go back on stage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make-up artist Bobbie Ng, from the Make-Up Room, encountered the same problem. \u201cThe roles the actors play are so diverse!\u201d she exclaims, noting that an actor could go from playing a drag queen in one scene to a bridegroom in the next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Race Against the Clock<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

One challenge shared by the entire team was the remarkably short timeframe in which they had to design miracles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGlen asked for two more backdrops for one of the scenes an hour before opening!\u201d Brian recalls. \u201cBut it was so fun and worth it, because that scene got the loudest laughs and applause that night.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs a stage lighting designer, I am fairly used to working with tight schedules and time constraints, but HOTEL<\/em> was seriously crazy,\u201d adds Woan Wen, something she attributes to the length of the show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI had very little time at rehearsal, so the biggest challenge was for the poor actors who got my cues way too late!\u201d Paul chimes in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The do-or-die mentality fuelling everyone in HOTEL<\/em> is something anyone who has worked backstage in the theatre would recognise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI learned to chiong<\/em>,\u201d laughs Theresa. \u201cTo chiong<\/em> first, and then pray and hope that everything will work out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HOTEL<\/em> runs throughout the Singapore Theatre Festival from 30 June to 24 July 2016! Visit www.singaporetheatrefestival.com<\/a> for more information!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Designing An Epic \u2013 Building HOTEL from Ground Zero – By Tiara Yap<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":27472,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[366,367,364,95,363,362,34,365,298,361],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27471"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27471"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27471\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27472"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27471"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27471"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27471"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}