Necessary Targets: use of performance space

The Clinic

The predominant performance space in Necessary Targets is the makeshift therapy clinic run by J.S. and Melissa.
This is a neutral and sterile space, often arranged with chairs or cushions in a circle or semi-circle, representing a safe space where the women can open up and share their traumas.
Careful stage blocking places the therapists and the Bosnian women on equal footing, discouraging a power imbalance, but also emphasises their cultural divide when necessary.

The Farm

A secondary performance space is Azra’s imagined farm. This is often represented using minimal props or set changes, underlining its status as a fantasy separate from the harrowing reality of the play.
On occasion, other characters enter Azra’s imagined space, illustrating moments of empathy and shared burden.

The Overall Performance Space

In Necessary Targets, performance spaces blend the boundaries between public and private spaces, representing the invasive nature of war on individuals’ lives.
The spaces are transient, and a shift between the clinic and the farm symbolises the characters’ minds shifting between reality and past memories or hopes for the future.
The performance space as a whole could be imagined as an open, flattened field, highlighting the raw openness and vulnerability of the characters’ experiences.

Use of Levels

The use of on-stage levels, such as standing, kneeling, or sitting, can illustrate the emotional state or power dynamics of a character.
Characters positioned higher may be in a position of power or control, while those lower could feel dominated or oppressed.
The levels can also symbolise the physical damage or emotional burden the characters carry.

Entrances and Exits

The entrances and exits used in Necessary Targets can reinforce character dynamics and strengthen dramatic tension.
Characters that storm off or slowly retreat will diversify the performance space with dynamic energy and emphasize a character’s emotional state.
The most impactful exits typically leave a void behind, often reflecting a sense of loss or unavailability.

Symbolic Placement

Characters often speak from emotionally symbolic places in the space, reflecting their state of mind.
The physical distance between characters could represent their emotional distance or tension.
The positioning of characters in the space can also indicate their social, cultural, or personal status regarding the war and its aftermath.
Key staging or blocking decisions, such as when J.S. physically lowers herself to the floor with the women, illustrate key shifts in relationships and behaviour.