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Training the Eye Workshop Results

Educational Session

In 2021 the workshops/sandbox for 'Training The Eye' under the leadership of Sholem Dolgoy and in partnership with Associated Designers of Canada and Gordon Tootoosis Nikaniwin Theatre in Saskatoon. He brought together Rachel Forbes, set and costume designer and myself as a lighting, set, and costume designer but also as a researcher along with a makeup artist, a video designer and photographers. We held two workshops sessions, total of 8 days to explore how to 'train the eye' and use the design elements to better serve the diversity of the performers on the stage, not just the white performer as almost all instructional texts focus on. These workshops continued on at World Stage Design and previous CITT/ICTS Rendez-vous conferences.

This is the beginning of a larger project to document what is required from designers and technicians so that everyone is equipped with the proper tools to support all performers. I will be presenting the outcomes of these workshops and a view into what was involved in the workshops.

After attending this session, attendees will be able to better understand the complexities of design and especially lighting the performers when multiple skin colours are present on stage. The presentation will also reveal some industry recommendations so that this kind of work can continue and a discussion of the barriers that have been in place for too long. Some tangible take aways will include a better understanding of colour theory in set, costume and lighting but theories that put the performer at the centre and not as an afterthought.

Presenter: Carla Orosz (she/her)

Carla is a set, lighting and costume designer who is grateful to live and work on Treaty 6 Territory. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Saskatchewan School for the Arts (Drama). Her most recent research work is centered on design elements used in new ways to increase and support diversity on stage by putting the performer first. She is also working on sustainability in the performing arts and how to better serve the community through shared resources. Her design work can be seen in Saskatoon at Greystone Theatre, Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan, Persephone Theatre, and various independent theatre collectives. She is a proud member of ADC 659, CITT, and IATSE Local 300. And most importantly a proud mother of two amazing children!