As a project at university we were set the task of designing a section of the opera L’enfant et Les Sortileges into a site-specific performance, using the Arkwright Building at Nottingham Trent University. To start the project off we looked at the history and ground plan of the building to get a rough idea of the building layout and in small groups we thought of a vague idea of how we would like to happen in the performance. The Arkwright building’s history has some strong connections to the opera because of they both have connections to the war. While visiting the Arkwright building, we assessed and planned what the best route would before the performance. While looking around the building we took some photographs of areas within the building which we though would make interesting places for different moments within the performance.

In small groups we started to design the opera within the space, creating charcoal drawings and digital sketches and images of ideas of what we would like to do with the space. Looking at the existing structural elements of the rooms and hallways, considering how to incorporate them into the performance.