As this is probably the last time I will design and paint
for this group, I thought it would be fun to return to my original
"Old Chep" design I did for Lisburn way back in 1972. (There
are changes on the right to account for this year's script.)
The painting is 18 feet wide with a seven foot drop. (5Ltr. paint
tin for scale below Rt lamppost) The two wings are permanent and
form a false proscenium for the show. This "backcloth" was painted
on the back wall of the stage. It's not the nicest of bases on which to
work. As you can see, it is bisected by a curtain track. This track needs
to be retained as the curtains are used during the show (See previous
page of "Ships Rail") So I can't work above this track becasue
whatever I paint would appear in all the other scenes. Also, to make matters
worse, there is a batten of wood which runs across the wall about five
feet off the stage floor. This, the school want to keep as they pin items
to it when doing their own childrens' shows.
This photo was taken under fluorescent light (You can see them) and some
tungsten. That batten will not be quite so prominent when it is lit from
the front during the performance - which means the shadow won't be so
noticeable.
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