TY - CONF

T1 - How Scenography Can Contribute at the State of Climate Crisis

T2 - IFTR Annual Conference: Our States of Emergency - Theatres and Performances of Tragedy Conference

AU - Oshima, Hiroko

PY - 2024/7/15

Y1 - 2024/7/15

N2 - The climate crisis, a man-made disaster resulting from rapid economic development, is an urgent issue that requires immediate attention. Human activities inevitably produce greenhouse gas emissions, prompting the theatre industry to rethink its traditional creation methods and aim for work that lessens its environmental impact. Scenography, in particular, utilises a large number of materials for each performance, many of which are not reused and consequently become waste. Tanija Beer challenged this disposable culture in performing arts and proposed ecoscenography (Beer 2021). This concept combines new materialism, ecological ethics, and the aesthetics of scenography. Beer's theory goes beyond merely improving one aspect of the creative process, such as incorporating natural motifs into scenography or using environmentally friendly materials. It advocates for considering the time before and after the creative period, including planning, rehearsal, and performance. It also considers the perception of the scenography and other entities present in the theatre, potentially revolutionizing the concept of scenography for the future. I applied Beer's Ecoscenography theory when designing a stage, ‘Emilia Galotti‘, produced by Translation Matters in Tokyo in October 2023. This presentation examines the ecoscenographical approach of my scenography and identifies future possibilities and challenges for scenographers in the era of the Anthropocene.

AB - The climate crisis, a man-made disaster resulting from rapid economic development, is an urgent issue that requires immediate attention. Human activities inevitably produce greenhouse gas emissions, prompting the theatre industry to rethink its traditional creation methods and aim for work that lessens its environmental impact. Scenography, in particular, utilises a large number of materials for each performance, many of which are not reused and consequently become waste. Tanija Beer challenged this disposable culture in performing arts and proposed ecoscenography (Beer 2021). This concept combines new materialism, ecological ethics, and the aesthetics of scenography. Beer's theory goes beyond merely improving one aspect of the creative process, such as incorporating natural motifs into scenography or using environmentally friendly materials. It advocates for considering the time before and after the creative period, including planning, rehearsal, and performance. It also considers the perception of the scenography and other entities present in the theatre, potentially revolutionizing the concept of scenography for the future. I applied Beer's Ecoscenography theory when designing a stage, ‘Emilia Galotti‘, produced by Translation Matters in Tokyo in October 2023. This presentation examines the ecoscenographical approach of my scenography and identifies future possibilities and challenges for scenographers in the era of the Anthropocene.

KW - Sustainability

KW - Scenography

M3 - Conference paper

Y2 - 15 July 2024 through 19 July 2024

ER -