Artist Research: Rae Smith

Rae Smith was the innovator of the War Horse (2011) theatrical design. She applies illustration to her design through the projection of still images onto a ripped piece of white material for the backdrop. The rest of the set design is simple, meaning that the audience's attention can be focused on the actors and the illustrations in the background. The illustrations are an integral part of the story as they reflect upon the protagonist's experiences in a sketchbook format. Rae Smith even commented, in The National Theatre documentary Making Warhorse (2007), how she became a method actor, drawing the scenery needed for the production as if she were the character. I'm really intrigued with this connection between the actors and the set design. It makes the set design more than just a background. Ideally I'd like to focus my practice to make work that isn't ignored by the audience or gets in the way of the performance.