The Ghost Train, directed by Gill Morrell
Set designer/dresser
The Ghost Train, performed at the Rondo Theatre, Bath in May, 2019. This project was my first set design for a theatre production. I worked closely with the director to ensure we created a cohesive, historically-accurate set that complimented the fantastic script by Arnold Ridley. The play was set in the late 1910's early 1920's in rural Cornwall, England. There were no set changes for this production as the whole play was set in the waiting room of a dingy train station. For the colour palette of the set, the directors wish was to mimic the colours of Great Western Railway. A bright, mustard yellow and a chocolate brown were the carrying colours for this set.
After my first few meetings with our director, I got to work on creating a 1:25 scale model box of the stage to help communicate our vision to the builders, stage manager, cast and crew. This is always my favourite part of the design process, perhaps even more so that the actual build. I find great joy in working on such a small scale, I feel that it allows you to focus in more on the details of a set, which is what makes a cohesive model box.
Although not a fantastically clear picture of the model box, the photo below shows the scale model in comparison to the final build. We created a ticket office at SL and along the back wall of the stage we added a 1920's style window and door for the actors to enter/exit. We also had a run-down fire place on SR with a surround that was painted chocolate brown and then distressed, to match the colour palette of the rest of the set. We then added a lighting fixture to the back wall, with a 1920's scalloped, glass lampshade. We also managed to find a GWR map of Cornwall and the surrounding areas, which was perfect, and just what we needed to complete the feel of the train station waiting room, so we framed it and hung it on the back wall. A few changes were made from the original model box due to time constraints and building difficulties but overall the set build was complete with ease and the director and I were pleased with how it turned out.
Below are some photos captured of the complete set during a few of the performances. Once the lighting design was complete, and we got to see the actors in their costumes moving around and interacting with the set, it was a fantastic feeling. It really completeed the illusion and made the audience (and crew) feel like they'd been transported to 1920.
