Kingdom: A Play About Snow White and Climate Change

Director: Vivian Appler -- Scenic Design: Lindsey Taylor -- Costume Design: Katherine Hillis -- Lighting Design: Andrew Neal -- Sound Design: Jeannie Thomas -- Media Design: Savannah Treu // The Arena Theater, Athens, GA


Designer Note:
The scenic design basis for "Kingdom: A Play About Snow White and Climate Change" starts with the title. First, "Kingdom" refers to the inspiration for the setting of the show: Rjukan, Norway in World War 2. Rjukan at the bottom of a valley where, for the months of September through March, the town doesn't get any direct sunlight. Nearby is Rjukan Falls, a waterfall used for a power plant and, potentially, to make heavy water for nuclear energy. The waterfall is the centerpiece of the script, so she is also the centerpiece of the stage. Secondly, "Snow White" draws images of Golden and Silver Age Disney animations, such as "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves" and "Sleeping Beauty." I used this in combination with Norwegian folk art to create fanciful forest visuals inspired by Disney concept artists like Mary Blair, Marc Davis, and Joe Grant. Both styles are evocative of nature while primarily using stark shapes and colors. Finally, "Climate Change" directed how I planned for the show to be put on in terms of materials. The majority of the set is built from stock and scrap materials already present at school. Very little, if anything, in the set is bought brand new. This philosophy extended to other areas of the show, such as the puppets being made from a compostable material and scrap fabric.