Patagonia
Theatre Set Design
Supported the design and build of the award winning set for the Bonnie and Clyde musical.
Get the highlights.
award nominations at NODA
audience standing ovations
reduction in planning time
Project overview
Delivered a complete set package for the Bonnie and Clyde musical that worked within the constraints of the theatre stage and technical constraints.
Timelines
3 months (including design, planning and installation).
Team role
Set designer and project manager – co-designed and assisted with the installation.
Understanding problem areas
PADOS need a set design that will be easy to build by a low experienced workforce.
PADOS need a set design that will be quick and easy to install by a low experience workforce.
PADOS need a set design that where parts could be used in other productions to help keep costs down.
Discover more about the problem.
Review other productions
Understanding how other production companies had showcased the production helped to gain ideas of what could work for PADOS.
Theatre schematic
I worked with the venue to get a details understanding of the size of the space and any technical limitations that needed to considered.
Team skill set
Before designing a solution, it was imperative to understand the skills of the team which would be building the set to ensure it could be delivered on time.
Defining the design area
The design needs to be low cost due to budget constraints of the charity.
The design needs to be able to fit into one truck for transport.
The design need to fixed onto rostrum due to haveing the band on top of it.
The design needs to allow for projections stated by the lighting designer.
Develop and test.
Sketched the car
As the car was an important set piece within the show, I created a number of quick drawings to help illustrate ideas and building methods for the team.
3D modelling
Built a full scale digital modal of the stage to help people visualise the space.
Deliver the solution.
Project reflections.
Ticket sales
Even though there was an increased effort from the marketing department to promote the show, unfortunately it did not sell as well as anticipated.
I don’t think is a reflection of PADOS as the professional touring show needed to close due to poor ticket sales.
However, it meant that the charity needed to increase fundraising in other areas to accommodate for this.
Winning Best Musical award
PADOS is part of the NODA awarding body (a UK affiliate dedicated to supporting amateur theatre) and each year all of their productions are nominated for awards.
In January 2025, Bonnie & Clyde was awarded the ‘Best Musical’, competing against 32 other theatre companies across the district.
Key skills used
Visual design, 3D modelling, Collaboration, Stakeholder management, Project management