Qimin Ma

When reading Sophie Treadwell’s play, I feel depressed not only for Helen but also for the world of the early 20th century. It makes me think about the society I am living in now. Even though it has been almost 100 years since the play was written, most of us are still living more or less like the characters in the play – In a machine-like society with marriage and gender inequality. Therefore, my version of the play is set in contemporary time to make the audience, especially women, think about the questions – Are we also living like machines? Are we all trapped in a cage?

I have designed a revolving stage with a frame covered by black curtains to emphasize the ending of Helen. On the outside of the revolving stage, a bigger cage envelops the stage showing that the world of the play is already like a cage, people are trapped within the society and they don’t even know. Moreover, I made an electric chair covered by a black cloth that appeared in all episodes to increase the horrifying atmosphere of the play.

Lighting is a useful equipment to make the set design stronger, I assume the big frame as a window so that once the light goes through the stage, the shadow of the frame which like a prison will also reflect on the stage, that will increase the depression feeling in this performance. On the other hand, the different colour of lights can also bring different atmospheres on the stage like the last scene, when the stage became red and the cage fell down, all the audience can feel is the tragic ending of Young Woman.