Vault Festival 2023
CHICAGO
EXPLOTATION
CORRUPTION
ADULTERY
VIOLENCE
GREED
LUST
CONCEPT
In reflecting on the ironic aspects of Chicago's injustice, crime, and politics, I designed the set as an entertainment stage to symbolize the show business in a contemporary context. The LED lights and light strips are used to demarcate the indoor jail space and performance stage to create a neutral sense of the space.
Concept Art Collage
SketchUp Rendering
1:25 Model Box
Director. Mary Bruton-Andrews & Mark Collier
Musical Director: Tony Henwood
Choreographer: Carryl Thomas
Designer: Jiayi Ding
Sound Designer: Neil Reynolds
Sound Operators: Sophie Allwright
Lighting Designer: Mark Collier
Lighting Programmer: Steven Frost
Lighting Operator: Justine Bourrette
Stage Managers: Stella Della Ragione & Eva Ilieva
Deputy Stage Managers: Emma Quayle
Location: Edward Latymer Theatre,
Latymer Upper School
Photo by Jiayi Ding and Latymer Upper School
DESIGN
Cell Block Tango
Courtroom
Roxie
Nowadays
My set design concept emphasizes structure as a representation of power hierarchy, while also using color symbolically. White is used to symbolize innocence and integrity, standing in stark contrast to the surrounding corruption. Red, representing lust, dominates the stage, creating a visual tension. My intention was to develop a cohesive scenographic language
—integrating set, lighting, and costume that provokes thought and invites interpretation from the audience.
My costume inspiration came from research into 1920s fashion, blended with contemporary aesthetics. For each character, I created a specific color palette to reflect their personality traits and role in the story. Accessories were deliberately exaggerated, especially for musical scenes, to heighten drama and emphasize character identity.
