Trap by Stephen Gregg

The majority of Trap takes place in undefined or liminal spaces, so it was important for the set to be very flexible while still maintaining the eerie aesthetic of the show, so I initially wanted to use a chain of platforms connected at the corners that could be moved & arranged in a number of ways.

Our director had concerns that the long series of platforms could be too heavy and difficult, so we decided to switch to two sets of platforms that could fit under each other, almost like a Russian Doll, reforming and reshaping as the play went on, much like the creature in the show. I incorporated a slated design on the front similar to Edward Gorey’s illustration style, as his art was my first inspiration for the show, and hid the alien symbol on the backs of the platforms that could be revealed when all of the platforms were turned around and pushed together.

The platforms were constructed by using an oscillating saw blade to cut out the slats individually after they were traced onto a sheet of lauan. The process was very time consuming and was largely done by myself and two other students.

Rough sketches of platform arrangements throughout the show.

Platforms in use onstage

To-do lists for construction that include priorities, time & people needed per task, which section they are onstage for, and any notes that may have been important. The top list is from opening night while the bottom list is from October, roughly a month before the show ended. I had these lists available via QR codes posted in the shop and would reference it when people needed tasks & to plan shop hours.