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Lesson 2 of 5
  • Year 9

The role of the set designer

The Objective for this lesson is to demonstrate a confident understanding of a range of creative and technical roles in the professional theatre, particularly the set designed, showing a secure awareness of the responsibilities involved.

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View unit
Lesson 2 of 5
  • Year 9

The role of the set designer

The Objective for this lesson is to demonstrate a confident understanding of a range of creative and technical roles in the professional theatre, particularly the set designed, showing a secure awareness of the responsibilities involved.

Download all
Share activities with pupils

These resources will be removed by the end of the Spring Term 2026.

These resources below were created for lockdown learning during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching. You may want to download these resources to save them and check any links you've saved or shared. See our help article for more information.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Exploring the role of the Set Designer and Key information about Set Design. How to interpret the directors' vision. Explanation of Set Design activity and some career information.

Content guidance

  • Physical activity required.

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is made available by Oak National Academy Limited and its partners and licensed under Oak’s terms & conditions (Collection 1), except where otherwise stated.

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
What does a set designer do?

Designs the costumes.
Designs the lights.
Correct answer: Designs the set.
Directs the production.

Q2.
Why is the directorial vision so important?

Correct answer: It has all the details how the director wants the productions to look like and feel.
It has all the lines that the actors have to say.
It has all the names and addresses of the production staff, crew and actors.

Q3.
What is a prop?

Correct answer: An object that the actor uses as part of their performance.
Frames that the backdrop hangs off from.
Furniture placed on the stage.

Q4.
What is the role of the director?

To act in a performance.
To design the set and lighting of a performance.
Correct answer: To oversee the creation and rehearsal of a performance.

Assessment exit quiz

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5 Questions

Q1.
Which one of these is NOT associated with set design?

Correct answer: Costume.
Furniture.
Props.
Scenery.

Q2.
What is a revolving stage?

Correct answer: A stage that revolves around allowing fast scene changes and movement on stage.
Large wooden frames with a black canvas stretched over them so the audience can’t see through them.
Wooden frames on wheels that furniture and set sit on to allow fast scene changes.

Q3.
Why would you use a smoke machine?

To add special effects into the performance such as flashes of light or fireworks.
Correct answer: To add to the atmosphere and mood of the performance.
To hide the actors on stage.

Q4.
True or false: The materials and textures used in the set don't need to be appropriate and relevant to the location and time period of the play.

Correct answer: False.
True.

Q5.
Why shouldn't you go on stage when someone else is up a ladder or on a scaffold over the stage?

Correct answer: To be safe from accidental falling objects.
To be safe from climbing ladders when you're not trained.
To be safe when lifting heavy equipment.