John worked as an Assistant Construction Draughtsperson on the Royal Opera House’s 2018 production of George Benjamin’s Lessons in Love and Violence, directed by Katie Mitchell with set design by Vicki Mortimer.
The production was staged within a highly controlled architectural environment that appeared to rotate throughout the performance, presenting the audience with changing viewpoints into the same room. The scenery required carefully concealed openings, moving sections and architectural details to maintain the illusion as the production progressed.
John’s work focused particularly on the development of the large fish tanks incorporated into the set. Working alongside audio-visual specialists ArtAV, research and development was undertaken to create tanks that appeared physically present within the room whilst using high-resolution LED technology to produce the visual effect.
John helped develop the construction information for the timber and steel surrounds, Perspex shells and integration of the LED displays, coordinating the physical scenic construction with the audio-visual technology.
The project required close collaboration between scenic construction and specialist technical disciplines, allowing a complex digital effect to be integrated convincingly within Vicki Mortimer’s otherwise highly naturalistic set..
- Director – Katie Mitchell
- Designer – Vicki Mortimer
- Head of Construction – Mark Pursey
- Lead Draughtsperson – Nathan James
The fixed set, a box painted dark blue with a bed, some Bacon paintings and a large tank of shimmering, quivering tropical fish, is seen from different angles as the work progresses.
Fiona Maddocks, The Guardian
