Hamlet: Set design (revolves, trucks, projection, multimedia, pyrotechnics, smoke machines, flying)

Traditional Set Design

In early performances of Hamlet, set designs were minimalistic. The stage was usually bare except for some significant props.
The Globe Theatre, where Hamlet was first performed, was designed so that the audience could use their imagination to fill in the details implied by the language used.
The use of period-specific items like thrones, tapestries or swords often helped to indicate the setting and enhance the audiences’ understanding of the story.

Modern stage technology allows for more dynamic set designs such as using revolves to quickly change settings or depict time passing.
Trucks are often used for practical set changes, specifically in large-scale productions, allowing entire rooms or landscapes to be introduced or removed efficiently.
The use of multimedia and projection technology allows for a wide range of visuals, like showing ghostly apparitions or flashback moments, which were impossible in the original staging.
Pyrotechnics and smoke machines can be used to create dramatic effects and enhance the intense emotions and conflicts in the play, such as the apparition of Hamlet’s father or depicting the literal and figurative ‘smoke and mirrors’ of court life.
Flying equipment is another modern addition to theatre technology which can be utilised in staging, for instance, to show the ghost hovering or to utilise vertical space effectively.

The decision of how the set should look heavily depends on the director’s interpretation. For example, in a contemporary staging of Hamlet, the director might choose a minimalist, abstract set to give focus on the psychological aspect of the play.
More traditional interpretations might prefer a detailed, realistic set design that reflects the actual surroundings of Elsinore Castle.
Either way, the choice in set design can provide a unique take and perspective on Shakespeare’s Hamlet while respecting the original text.
Great set design is not just about aesthetics, it also aids in storytelling and characterization. It can underline themes, enhance the mood, and provide symbolic references, all of which contribute to a richer theatre experience.