What would be the significant scenic design elements required in order to set Angela Carter's The Erl-King within an immersive environment?

Abstract

A blend between Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel & Gretel, Angela Carter's The Erl-King is a fairy tale rich in imagery and symbolism. Carter's writing style and carefully chosen vocabulary evokes a multisensory world that the reader is able to experience. This dissertation is an exploration into what specific scenic design elements would be required in order to set The Erl-King within an immersive environment. Over the last ten or so years, we have seen a resurgence in immersive theatre, ranging from site-specific installations to detailed film-sets that the audience are invited to explore. This study will focus on how a designer can translate a written piece into a physical design, focusing on stimulating the audience's senses. It will explain in detail the variety of scenic design elements that are needed in the creation of a multisensory experience for the audience. In addition to a textual analysis of The Erl-King and of academic sources, this design has been informed by the work of contemporary immersive theatre companies. I have chosen to research through practice, creating a scale model of my design as a tool for experimentation. This study develops a deeper understanding of what criteria is needed to translate this specific text into an immersive design, ultimately focusing on the audience's viewpoint, their relation to the spaces they are placed in, and the creation of a unified atmosphere through the use of sensory stimulation.