Artisttic Intention: Flashcards
(6 cards)
Name the key themes in Kindertransport
Mother daughter relationships, Loss and separation, identity and secrets
What influenced Diane Samuel’s to write this play?
She was Jewish, a young mother, saw a TV documentary about survivors from the Kindertransport and shocked how the parents and children struggled to deal with this desperate parting and how the Children felt guilty about their survival
What is the Artistic Intention of Kindertransport?
The play explores the impact of loss in mother daughter relationships across generations. It shows the dilemma of a life-threatening decision, and the different decision a child would make compared to a parent
How can you plan an answer to an 8 Marker Question about how you would reflect the themes of the play as a set designer?
List some set design ideas for each theme:
Trauma (guilt) = dimly lit train tracks running on SL through whole play, to show Eva’s traumatic journey
Fear and separation = Non - naturalistic set with train tracks same place as the trauma theme. Tracks would go off stage into the wings to represent abyss that Eva feels she’s falling into due to her mothers separation - historical context of Kindertransport
Secrets = highly stacked piles of boxes in upstage of attic (represent Evelyn’s secrets from Faith.) They are
stacked highly to show how Evelyn is starting to feel overwhelmed with secrets. At beginning, boxes are tightly shut to show hidden secrets but they begin to open
Mothers and Daughters = Open trapdoor to show the loss of their bond due to the fear + abandonment caused by the Kindertransport - trapdoor indicates emotional abyss caused by Eva’s separation
What is the difference between a naturalistic and an expressionistic set,?
Naturalistic sets aim to make the set appear as natural and realistic as possible. But expressionistic set might include key items that show a stylised setting
