Scenery in An Inspector Calls

Before we delve into the activities, let's take a look at some key terms that we'll be using.

Key Terms

• Set Design - the process of designing and creating the physical space where the play will be performed
• Staging - the way in which the actors are arranged on the stage in relation to each other and to the set
• Props - items used by actors during the play to help tell the story e.g. furniture, cutlery, telephone
• Lighting - the use of light to create mood, atmosphere and focus on characters

Questions

1. What is set design?
2. What is the purpose of staging?
3. Can props be used to give clues to the audience about upcoming events?
4. How can lighting be used to enhance the performance?

Set Design Exercise

Your task is to design a set for An Inspector Calls. Draw a sketch of the set and include labels for any props that will be used. Remember, the set should reflect the time period and the theme of the play.

Quotation Analysis

Choose one of the quotes below and explain how it relates to the setting of the play.

1. "The dining-room of a fairly large suburban house, belonging to a prosperous manufacturer."
2. "The lighting should be pink and intimate until the Inspector arrives, and then it should be brighter and harder."
3. "The general effect is substantial and heavily comfortable, but not cozy and homelike."
4. "The street is only lightly cobbled and the houses are dark and rather dingy."

Contextual Research Task

Research the social and political climate of Britain during the time period in which An Inspector Calls is set (1912). Write a paragraph explaining how this climate is reflected in the play.

Open-Ended Research Task

Research the set designs used in different productions of An Inspector Calls. Write a paragraph discussing the similarities and differences between the designs and explain how they contribute to the overall message of the play.