From: "Michael Nelson" <mnelson-AT-i-cafe.net>
Subject: PUPT: A Question of Scale..How small is too small?
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2003 15:26:43 -0700


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I would love some input with a quick survey.  My questions specifically relate to sizing for toy theatre but other types of small theatre may equally apply.

For those of you who perform with toy or small prosceniums:
What size is your stage/proscenium opening (actual visible area) ?
What size (how tall) are your figures (puppets, characters)?
What size audience do you feel is appropriate for your show (and does the audience view the show unaided, ie. without opera glasses, etc)?

For those of you who have seen a small show:
What was your experience as regards the questions above? (Sizes and audience size, and quality of audience experience?)

I am trying to determine whether to make my toy theatre larger or not.  I have expanded it once from a 8.5 inch (wide) by 6.5 inch proscenium to 11.5 wide by 6.5, with figures ranging from 4 to 5 inches tall.  Twenty people can easily watch it, and with the right seating layout I calculate 40 could watch with the back 20 using opera glasses (or maybe everyone using them.)  But it seems very small to me.  However, it is an easy and convenient size to work in and maybe a jump to an audience of 60 would require quite a bit larger jump in size to make any difference...

I will await the collective experiences of my colleagues...

Thanks,
Michael Nelson

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