The design for Orlando is an abstract and operatic response to the unreliable narrative of the play. It appears to me that the whole play is Orlando telling his/her stories from the memory, which is inevitably exaggerated and inaccurate, and no two times are the same. Therefore, the design tries to capture Orlando’s subjective experience of life. With a focus on set and lighting for the design, I try to emphasise how memory can be exaggerated and storytelling can be slightly different each time.

 

The set design consists of layers of white fabric and texture flown into the space to recall Orlando’s memory, which also serve as hints for the perception of time. Different textural elements are extracted to represent the memories that Orlando has gone through. They create a space combing historical facts and surreal fantasies, allowing the audience to use their imagination and immerse themselves in this 500-year journey with Orlando.

 

Together with the lighting design, the same layer can represent different pieces of memories. The memories are meaningful only when they are coloured. As the play progresses, layers of fabric gradually accumulate and block the stage, suggesting the memories become burdens for Orlando.