-- Set --
The set for Hansel and Gretel will be a vital part of the production, setting the mood at every moment, from the calm of the woodcutters house to the dark loneliness fo the forest, and from the cheery madness outside the witch's house to the sinister madness inside. The main method of construction is using withies. The following is a quick guide to the construction.
1. Withies (baby willow branches) are attached to each other using tape and wire to create the shape of the building (in the picture below this is the roof of the woodcutter's house).
2. The structure is covered with papier mache - note that the surface is not smooth but shows up the withies underneath. The paper is also thin enough to let light shine through, making the buildings glow.
3. It is then painted with poster paint, bringing out the texture even more. Finally it is sprayed with flame check.
More information about withies is available at www.accessart.org.ukInformation about purchasing withies is available at www.windrushwillow.com
