1. 1 Style, Composition, and Design (Style/Stylization/Production Style)
The word “style” can refer to different ideas:
clothing, car models, house décor, etc.
“Compositional characteristics that distinguish the appearance of one type of thing from another.”
More generally, it is “a reflection of the social and political history of the times, …that… are eventually reflected in the patterns and shifting artistic trends of the period.
For theatre purposes, we combine these:
“A recognizeable pattern of compositional elements that provides a distinctive reflection of the social and political history of the time.”
We use this definition to identify particular compositional features that embody a moment in history (such as the 70s, or the Renaissance).
Clothing/fashion is one of the easiest ways to understand the idea of “style.”
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2. A Brief History of Theatre Architecture & Stage Technology (Style/Stylization/Production Style)
production style - a manner of producing a play in which all production elements (costume, scenery, lights, acting, directing, etc) adhere to a common set of artistic/philosophical characteristics
This can be viewed as the central stylistic theme on which the world of the production is based.
It is a recognizable pattern of visual and intellectual elements, based on social and political history, used to create the production environment for a particular play.
It must be derived from a careful and creative interpretation of the script.
It is the single most important step in the development of a play's concept.
Production style affects everything from the set to costumes to directing choices, and much more!
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3. A Brief History of Theatre Architecture & Stage Technology (Design Styles and Design Periods)
Neither styles nor periods exist within narrowly described time frames – they overlap.
Styles evolve from those that came before, and evolve into those that come after.
Example: Naturalism began as a reaction against what was seen as the stylistic excesses of romanticism. After it became the dominant style, realism began as a reaction against what some viewed as the rigid rules of naturalism.
Romanticism  Naturalism  Realism
Production style affects everything from the set to costumes to directing choices, and much more!
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4. A Brief History of Theatre Architecture & Stage Technology (Design Styles and Design Periods)
It is near impossible to create an absolutely accurate historical period or style on stage, for two main reasons:
Contemporary stylistic and practical influences on designers
Audience expectations
Designers must stylize a show.
Stylize – to use specific compositional elements characteristic of a particular style or period to create the essence of that style or period.
Costumes, set, and furniture are usually minimally stylized to closely duplicate the line, mass, texture, and color of a particular style or period.
The more something is stylized, the more difficult it will be to predict audience interpretation and reaction.
This depends on researching the demographics and theatrical experience level of your audience!
Example: A play set in 1820 England.
If contemporary fashion sense dictates that the hair styles of the 1820s were ugly, silly, or funny- looking, the costume designer should not use them on a character the audience is supposed to like!
It is frequently impossible to find historically accurate materials – plus, the conventions of building sets are very different from building actual houses, etc!
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5. A Brief History of Theatre Architecture & Stage Technology (Design Styles and Design Periods)
Literary style also has influence over theatrical design.
How a playwright writes a script provides a designer with lots of information:
Verse drama has a sense of majesty and nobility simply because it is written in poetic form.
Prose drama does not have this same sweeping sense of stylistic influence.
Writing style can influence the fabrics used by costume designers, and design styles drafted by scenic designers.
Short, choppy dialogue, for example, might influence designers to work with short, choppy lines and harsh angles to echo and emphasize the writing style.
Magnetic tape recorders started a quick-developing boom in sound technology.
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