Wonder.land
Created by Damon Albarn, Moira Buffini and Rufus Norris
Music by Damon Albarn, book and lyrics by Moira Buffini. Directed by Rufus Norris
FIrst staged at the Manchester International Festival in July 2015 and the National Theatre November 2015
Celebrating the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, Wonder.land is a new glimpse in to the story and a tremendous cross boundary theatre and music project. For me an exciting design idea has been to build model scenery for filming, like a film set special effects model, then projected back in to the theatre environment alongside built scenery that has the same painterly quality as the model.
The production had its world premiere in Manchester International Festival in July 2015 and opened in the National Theatre in November 2015
Original Storyboard of opening scenes |
White card model |
White card model and design inspiration on the walls of the model room at the National Theatre |
Technical rehearsal sketches |
Development of “The Grey World” model landscape |
Development of Wonderland and scenic work |
Technical rehearsal photo from Manchester |
Production photos: Manchester international Festival July 2015 |
For London I designed a tower block proscenium arch in the Olivier theatre in order to focus the down stage acting area and give scale to the performer. |
Production photos: National Theatre November 2015 |
Further reading:
Reviews for Wonderland at Manchester International Festival July 2015:
—
“As Albarn’s music threads its way through the action, you have rotating sets by Rae Smith that evoke the monochrome quality of urban life… The show looks highly impressive”
The Guardian, July 2015
—
“Rae Smith’s spectacular but subtle sets are the real star of this show.”
Independent, July 2015
—
The designs by Rae Smith (who designed War Horse) are witty and colourful: working with 59 Productions she reaches a new level of stage magic.
BBC News 3rd July 2015
—
“Rae Smith’s sets are an ever changing spectacle – constantly fluctuating between the grey real world and the vivid gaming platform”
Manchester Evening News 2nd July 2015
—