Stockholm: Sound design (direction, amplification, music, sound effects)

Overview of Sound Design in “Stockholm”

Sound design is a crucial element of “Stockholm” by Bryony Lavery, meticulously curated to enhance the narrative and emotional response.
Throughout the play, an ingenious mix of direction, amplification, music and sound effects are utilised.
They contribute significantly to the creation of tension, mood and atmosphere, and further the portrayal of key themes in the performance.

Sound direction in “Stockholm” is manipulative, strategically used to influence the audience’s emotional response.
The use of amplification in scenes of violence and high tension emphasises the intensity and emotional turmoil experienced by the characters.
In contrast, moments of tranquillity and apparent love between Kali and Todd are subtly underscored to produce a conflicting sense of unease.

Lavery’s choice of music plays a key role in setting the emotional tone, often contrasting with the on-stage action to produce dramatic irony.
The upbeat music during violent episodes is disturbing and underscores the sinister undertones beneath the surface of their relationship.
The recurrent use of ballroom dance music during the couple’s dance routines heightens the contrast between their public facade and the hidden reality of their abusive relationship.

Strategic use of sound effects in “Stockholm” provides a complement to the physical actions and emotional undertones in the play.
The ambient sounds of a busy city life subtly remind the audience of the stark discrepancy between the exterior world and the couple’s confined domestic life.
The startling sounds interrupting scenes of tranquillity serve as an audio metaphor for the sudden eruptions of violence in their relationship.

The sound design in “Stockholm” manipulates the audience’s emotional journey, even as it mirrors the characters’ emotional states.
The use of disturbing contrasts between sound and action incites discomfort in the audience, provoking introspection about the themes of the play.
The subtlety in sound underscores the deception inherent in appearances, prompting the audience to question preconceived notions of love and domestic life.
Above all, the sound design in “Stockholm” helps to break down the barrier between the audience and the world on stage, allowing the audience to engage more deeply with the characters’ experiences.