The drum in previous productions
Examples of how the Drum has been used in previous productions:
Swap-over
Swapping elevators stretches the capabilities of the drum revolve to the maximum. Not all productions lend themselves to this use as the physical process of swapping-over requires that scene changes be arranged in such a way as to provide two minutes to complete the process. In The Shaughraun (1988) and Peter Pan (1997/98) a major setting was built on one elevator – the scenic elevator – and the other elevator used to provid a flat-floor when at stage level. In The Shaughraun, the scenic elevator provided the stunning effect of castle and moorland rising out of the mist. In Peter Pan, it provided the underground home of the Lost Boys, while the flat-floor elevator made an open stage so that a revolving island could be created using scenery wheeled onto the drum from backstage. Droom
'Droom' from Drum and Room
The Wind in the Willows (1990/91/93/94) and His Dark Materials (2003) use this technique to stunning effect. The roofed structure on the scenic elevator provides a multi-level acting area – interior scenes and overhead scenes from the roof when the elevator is raised, plus the ability to create vertical 'wipes' - to change from a scene inside the droom to one on its top, or vice versa, as the elevator rises and falls. This method can be used to provide both 'scenic' and 'flat-floor' effects without having to swap elevators and is a much more efficient use of the drum. In The Wind in the Willows, the roof of the droom became a revolving meadow when the elevator was lowered, and provided the interiors of Ratty's, Mole's and Badger's houses when raised. The rim revolve was used to provide a river, road and railway track. The elevator, which is never seen, is used as a storage area for props and scenery. In both His Dark Materials and The Wind in the Willows, the interior wall panels and furniture were changed to provide the different interior settings each time the droom was lowered. The 'back wall' of the droom (the straight-edge bisecting the drum) can also be used in different ways. In The Wind in the Willows it supplied backings to other scenes, and in His Dark Materials it is used to provide entrances and exits, as well as a back-projection screen, using projectors mounted within the droom roof. His Dark Materials breaks new ground in that the storage elevator is also used to provide scenic effects, by raising a tower through the disc traps. Behind-the-Scenes
The best example of this was during the production of Oklahoma! (1998), in which swap-overs took place behind a huge flown cornfield. The drum was used to bring the house/barn on to the stage by swapping a flat-floor elevator for the scenic one. The audience were completely unaware of the process. Outside of performances the drum is often used to assist in the construction of shows by bringing scenery in from below - through the scenery doors - and raising it to stage level.
Quick-change
One elevator, the storage elevator, is positioned just below stage level - beneath the visible part of the disc - and is used to house furniture, props, scenery and actors. The other elevator, which forms the stage, thus has only a small distance to drop before props and actors can be transferred across from the storage elevator. It can then rise rapidly back to stage level. This can be a relatively quick process with a skilled crew below waiting to make the transfer. This technique was used in The School for Scandal (1990) and Mother Courage and Her Children (1995). Often the change can happen while a scene masking it takes place downstage of the drum. Revolve
A revolve is required in many productions and can be used in many different ways. What the audience is not aware of in the Olivier is that out of sight there is a 3-storey, 150 tonne structure, revolving on wheels which are below car-park level. The drum revolve becomes more spectacular when the rim revolve is added around the outside. The rim can be synchronised with the drum, to provide the effect of a massive revolve, or operate independently. The drum often has a large scenic element on it, while the rim is used to transport actors and props on from either side, as in Volpone (1995). The rim is used in His Dark Materials to bring scenery on through sliders either side of the drum, and occasionally to rotate in sync with the drum to give the effect of the entire stage revolving. Synchronising rim and drum in different directions provides the method of depicting Will and Lyra's separate worlds, as the tree in the Botanic Garden splits – half on the drum, half on the rim. Scenic Automation
In this case, the use of the drum may be completely invisible. In Under Milk Wood (1997), the stage had panels connected to rods, which in turn connected to the elevators. By moving the elevators, the panels were made to move. In Bacchai (2002), one elevator had a tower attached to it which provided a small rising podium at stage level. A more subtle example is the use of the storage elevator in His Dark Materials to provide the effect of a flown balloon and of a boat rowing through space. In each case the tower, which is at other times revealed, is sheathed in black with the balloon basket or boat attached to the top, so that the effect of flight is achieved by movement of the tower up and down.
Swapping elevators stretches the capabilities of the drum revolve to the maximum. Not all productions lend themselves to this use as the physical process of swapping-over requires that scene changes be arranged in such a way as to provide two minutes to complete the process. In The Shaughraun (1988) and Peter Pan (1997/98) a major setting was built on one elevator – the scenic elevator – and the other elevator used to provid a flat-floor when at stage level. In The Shaughraun, the scenic elevator provided the stunning effect of castle and moorland rising out of the mist. In Peter Pan, it provided the underground home of the Lost Boys, while the flat-floor elevator made an open stage so that a revolving island could be created using scenery wheeled onto the drum from backstage. Droom
'Droom' from Drum and Room
The Wind in the Willows (1990/91/93/94) and His Dark Materials (2003) use this technique to stunning effect. The roofed structure on the scenic elevator provides a multi-level acting area – interior scenes and overhead scenes from the roof when the elevator is raised, plus the ability to create vertical 'wipes' - to change from a scene inside the droom to one on its top, or vice versa, as the elevator rises and falls. This method can be used to provide both 'scenic' and 'flat-floor' effects without having to swap elevators and is a much more efficient use of the drum. In The Wind in the Willows, the roof of the droom became a revolving meadow when the elevator was lowered, and provided the interiors of Ratty's, Mole's and Badger's houses when raised. The rim revolve was used to provide a river, road and railway track. The elevator, which is never seen, is used as a storage area for props and scenery. In both His Dark Materials and The Wind in the Willows, the interior wall panels and furniture were changed to provide the different interior settings each time the droom was lowered. The 'back wall' of the droom (the straight-edge bisecting the drum) can also be used in different ways. In The Wind in the Willows it supplied backings to other scenes, and in His Dark Materials it is used to provide entrances and exits, as well as a back-projection screen, using projectors mounted within the droom roof. His Dark Materials breaks new ground in that the storage elevator is also used to provide scenic effects, by raising a tower through the disc traps. Behind-the-Scenes
The best example of this was during the production of Oklahoma! (1998), in which swap-overs took place behind a huge flown cornfield. The drum was used to bring the house/barn on to the stage by swapping a flat-floor elevator for the scenic one. The audience were completely unaware of the process. Outside of performances the drum is often used to assist in the construction of shows by bringing scenery in from below - through the scenery doors - and raising it to stage level.
| Drum Revolve in use for Oklahoma! photo Philip Carter |
Quick-change
One elevator, the storage elevator, is positioned just below stage level - beneath the visible part of the disc - and is used to house furniture, props, scenery and actors. The other elevator, which forms the stage, thus has only a small distance to drop before props and actors can be transferred across from the storage elevator. It can then rise rapidly back to stage level. This can be a relatively quick process with a skilled crew below waiting to make the transfer. This technique was used in The School for Scandal (1990) and Mother Courage and Her Children (1995). Often the change can happen while a scene masking it takes place downstage of the drum. Revolve
A revolve is required in many productions and can be used in many different ways. What the audience is not aware of in the Olivier is that out of sight there is a 3-storey, 150 tonne structure, revolving on wheels which are below car-park level. The drum revolve becomes more spectacular when the rim revolve is added around the outside. The rim can be synchronised with the drum, to provide the effect of a massive revolve, or operate independently. The drum often has a large scenic element on it, while the rim is used to transport actors and props on from either side, as in Volpone (1995). The rim is used in His Dark Materials to bring scenery on through sliders either side of the drum, and occasionally to rotate in sync with the drum to give the effect of the entire stage revolving. Synchronising rim and drum in different directions provides the method of depicting Will and Lyra's separate worlds, as the tree in the Botanic Garden splits – half on the drum, half on the rim. Scenic Automation
In this case, the use of the drum may be completely invisible. In Under Milk Wood (1997), the stage had panels connected to rods, which in turn connected to the elevators. By moving the elevators, the panels were made to move. In Bacchai (2002), one elevator had a tower attached to it which provided a small rising podium at stage level. A more subtle example is the use of the storage elevator in His Dark Materials to provide the effect of a flown balloon and of a boat rowing through space. In each case the tower, which is at other times revealed, is sheathed in black with the balloon basket or boat attached to the top, so that the effect of flight is achieved by movement of the tower up and down.
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