John worked as Lead Construction Draughtsman on the Royal Opera House’s 2020 production of Alice’s Adventures Underground, designed and directed by Antony McDonald.
The production was centred around a 19th-century toy theatre, with a raked stage incorporating a series of moving sliders used to introduce and remove scenic elements throughout the performance. Concealed footlights, moving components and detailed backdrops allowed the environment to continually transform as Alice travelled through Wonderland.
John was responsible for developing the construction drawings required to translate the scenic design into buildable and reliable stage scenery. Particular attention was given to the moving mechanisms and interfaces between scenic elements, ensuring that the transformations could be repeatedly achieved within the demands of live performance.
The project combined detailed construction draughting with the development of complex moving scenery, translating Antony McDonald’s highly theatrical visual language into practical information for the Royal Opera House workshops and production teams.
To find out more about this production you can read The Guardian review by Andrew Clements, or take a look at a behind the scenes photo essay by Tristram Kenton, Mee-Lai Stone and Imogen Tilden.
- Director & Designer – Antony McDonald
- Head of Construction – Mark Pursey
Brilliant in every surreal detail.
Andrew Clements, The Guardian
