CLOUD NINE

Written by Caryl Churchill

Role: Associate Set Designer

Director: Maude Davey

Set Designer: Max Bowyer

Associate Set Designer: XaSha Chua-Huggins

Costume Designer: Sasha Vulling

Lighting Designer: August Shearman

Associate Lighting Designer: Iz

Sound Designer: Ethan Hunter

Cast: VCA Acting Company of 2021

Act 1

Act One's set was designed to reinforce 'keeping up appearances'' with a series of curtains which imitate Victorian Theatre staging; from downstage to upstage, red velvet proscenium arch curtain and then two sets of curtains depicting an illustrative African Landscape. Upstage centre, above a rostra, is a portrait of Queen Victoria, representing these characters religious patriotism. The floor is covered in grass and rugs, demonstrating the Colonial African taming and reconstruction of the landscape.

Act 2

Ending Act 1, in the play's climax where loyal servant shoots his master after realising society's injustices, the curtains kabuki drop to the ground. Traces of Victorian Africa remain; rolled up rugs and grass along with fallen kabuki curtains side-stage. Built up over the top of this past is 1970s Victoria Park, London, with the same outdoor iron chairs and table, bare black rostra, a lamp post and children's swing set.