Designing Oppression: Timber, Iron, and Claustrophobia
Design Focus: The ceiling beams should hang deliberately low over the stage. This creates a deeply claustrophobic atmosphere, visually suggesting that the strict rules of Puritan society are physically crushing down on John and Elizabeth. The furniture is sparse and rough-hewn, showing a life of hard labor.
Because the play has four distinct locations, directors often use a "Unit Set"—a single, abstract wooden structure that remains on stage, with only small furniture changes (like adding a bench or a bed) to indicate a new room.
A raised wooden platform. Essential for Act 3 (The Court). Placing Danforth on a high rostrum forces the accused to physically look up to him, symbolizing the absolute power of the Theocracy.
What the audience can see. In Act 4, blocking the audience's sightlines with thick iron bars makes them feel just as trapped and imprisoned as John Proctor.
Wood that looks unpolished and chopped by an axe. Using this texture everywhere reminds the audience that Salem is a harsh, newly built frontier town surrounded by a dangerous wilderness.
Edexcel Students: Fill out a table exactly like this in your exam.
AQA/WJEC Students: Use this structure to write perfect paragraphs (Point âž” Effect âž” Terminology).
| Element / Effect | How would it enhance the extract for the audience? | Technical language you could use |
|---|---|---|
| Click 'Generate Example' to see a top-band answer... |