The Long and the Short and the Tall: Prop design

The Long and the Short and the Tall: Prop design

Prop Design Specifics

Radio Set

• The radio set is vital to the plot, it is how the patrol can receive news from their base. It epitomises their connection to the outside world.
• When losing reception, it symbolises the characters’ isolation and detachment from the normal chain of command.

Weapons

• Whether it is the British soldiers’ weapons or the Japanese soldier’s, every firearm on set is a physical representation of the underlying threat throughout the play.
• Private Bamforth’s refusal to take up arms against the Japanese soldier can be seen as an embodiment of his moral stand.

The Bible

• Private Evans carries a bible, representing his inner conflict between his religious beliefs and his responsibilities as a soldier.

Personal Items

• The Japanese soldier’s family photos are a powerful symbol of his humanity.
• Private Bamforth’s trade items provide visual evidence of his rebellion against the military hierarchy.

Set Design Integration

• Props should seamlessly integrate with the set, which itself should convey a sense of the claustrophobic jungle hut and intense wet climate.

Prop Selection Philosophy

• Every prop should encapsulate the personality or inner struggle of the character associated with it. They should bring the character’s interior states outward into the visual realm.
• Props should also contribute to the mood and tension of the play, further clarifying the themes and arguments made by the storyline.

Practical and Thematic Roles of Props

• Props in this play should both serve a practical function—to advance the story and give action to the characters—and a thematic one, providing a visual clue to the key themes and conflicts.
• Therefore, the prop design of The Long, the Short and the Tall shouldn’t just provide realistic detail but help express the play’s exploration of moral uncertainty in times of war.