The Society of British Theatre Designers

Exhibitions:

The new RWCMD Buildings

UK designers are invited to participate in the SBTD National Exhibition of performance design which is taking place in Cardiff in January 2011.

Entry is open to any practitioner wishing to exhibit, but exhibitors must be (or become) members of either the SBTD, Association of Lighting Designers (ALD) or Society of Theatre Consultants (STC). Designs submitted for the exhibition must have been realised in performance in the past four years, 2007–2011.

Join the SBTD today!

For more information download our Transformation & Revelation document

PQ011, V&A and Catalogue

As well as the exhibition in Cardiff selected exhibits also make up part of the UK national exhibit at the Prague Quadrennial. An expanded exhibition will also be taken to the V&A n London. All exhibitors are also offered the opportunity to include their work in the National exhibition catalogue which have long been recognised as principal reference and inspiration of UK theatre design by professionals and schools and colleges.

View our previous catalogues

Theme: Transformation & Revelation

As with past exhibitions, the intention of the theme is firstly to create a journey through a wide range of work, with headings and questions that stimulate a dialogue with the work on display. Secondly, the theme is designed to provide handles with which designers can reflect upon and present key aspects of their work.

An important part of the concept for this particular exhibition is to show not only the final outcome of the production but also, where possible, preparatory drawings and other work which demonstrate the designers’ journey through ideas and working process.

Working from the premise that the function of design is not merely to illustrate the performed text, music or movement, but to provide a further layer of visual narrative, it is the scenographer’s job to make us ask, “What am I going to see next? What will be revealed?” It is through this process of constant visual and aural transformation and revelation that we experience a work of theatre.

The following headings are offered up for consideration by UK designers and artists as they select and prepare their displays:

• The transformation of ideas into reality – the designer’s/scenographer’s working and conceptual process.
• The transformation of space using structures and objects to reveal narrative.
• The transformation from one scene to another to show the stylistic, aesthetic and thematic progression of the design.
• The transformation of the performer into character and the visual journey of that character during the performance.
• The transformative qualities of light.
• The transformative qualities of sound.
• The transformation that occurs in a location when it is used as a site for performance.
• The transformation that happens to an audience’s perception of a location when it is used as a site for performance.
• The transformative quality of a visual metaphor on an audience’s imagination.

Deadline & Further Information

The deadline for submitting an intent to exhibit form and the £50 deposit is APRIL 30th 2010.
For more information download our Transformation & Revelation document

Current Members

If you are a current SBTD Member and wish to exhibit at the 2011 exhibition please read this page for entrance information.

Venue: Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama

The 2011 exhibition is to be held at the new galleries of Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Read an article about the 2011 Exhibition venue here.

Read more about our 2007 National Exhibition “Collaborators”