WAR REQUIEM ENGLISH NATIONAL OPERA

Abstract Form: Working from a scanned maquette, this piece was created using CNC and hand carving.

This ENO production of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem saw Turner Prize-winning photographer Wolfgang Tillmans design a sparse set comprising three huge screens and a single, large abstract form.

The 1.5m high form covered a footprint of 5m by 3m. Organic and tuber-like, it was in deliberate contrast to the harsh, jagged imagery depicting the aftermath of war and when on stage, was the only piece of physical scenery present. The piece provided a raised performance area for multiple cast members with foot holds and hand holds providing safe, unencumbered access for performers, while an internal steel skeleton provided stability.

Case Study © Stage One Creative Services Limited www.stageone.co.uk It was important that the form was easily manoeuvrable for staff at the ENO to manage backstage at the London Coliseum. To this end, the piece was made in four sections, assembled off-stage and, thanks to integral fixing points, lowered into position as a single item.

Our interpretation team worked from a scanned maquette, helping develop the design before realising the form in polystyrene using our large volume 5-axis CNC machine. This was further refined with hand carving and infilled with polyurethane foam before being coated with GRP. A traditional scenic scrim was layered with a silver metallic finish chosen to work with the stage lighting.

Case Study © Stage One Creative Services Limited www.stageone.co.uk