Boosting set building skillsets with graffiti techniques
Ever wondered how set designers were able to create graffiti for the stage? Think of West Side Story with the musical’s staging reflecting the rivalry of two opposing gangs with its’ use of street art.
Well, members of the workshop team from Theatre Royal Plymouth recently completed a bespoke intensive Graffiti Painting Techniques training course. They’re based at TR2, in Cattedown. From here, sets and scenery for productions across the globe are created.
Across the three day course, Katie Prouse, Bethe Crews and Katherine Murphey, explored spray-can control, cap types and varying line weights.
They learned about fine-line techniques and expressive mark-making, tagging principles and ways to cover large areas quickly.
‘I learnt lots of different techniques using the spray can — different caps for different line sizes, how distance affects the mark and how to get fine lines. It will be good to put those skills to use here in the workshop,’ says Katherine.
The artists say the training’s provided them with an expanded technical toolkit and a stronger creative reference base for future projects.
‘I think I could now look at graffiti artwork and tell whether it comes from the Philadelphia style — with its tall, stretched lettering — or the New York style, with its bubble letters and more artistic composition,’ explains Katie.
‘We learnt how to throw something up quickly as well as how to make something beautiful. Being able to cover a large area very quickly is going to be really helpful in our work.’
Integrating aerosol design into the team’s training means this skillset can now be used across commercial musical theatre, opera and international touring productions.
‘We learnt how to throw something up quickly as well as how to make something beautiful.’ Image: TRP
‘Specialist development for scenic artists’
The Theatre Artists Fund training programme supports skills’ development and was led by Brendan Cusack, Head of Workshop at TRP.
‘As the Theatre Artists Fund programme evolved, it became clear that scenic art is a core component of TR2’s output and that specialist development for scenic artists was needed,’ says Brendan.
‘Introducing dedicated scenic-art training ensures the programme supports the full breadth of workshop disciplines.’
The physical training was delivered by LJ Stonehouse, a professional graffiti artist and member of the collective The Rolling People.
‘It will be good to put those skills to use here in the workshop.’ Image: TRP
They were introduced to TR2 through Mike Vosper at Plymouth Artists Together (PAT), a community arts organisation specialising in authorised graffiti and urban mural projects across Plymouth.
TR2 previously collaborated with PAT during the scenic build of Il Trovatore for Houston Grand Opera in 2024 – and the successful partnership led directly to commissioning LJ to deliver this course.
Managers explain that the training will enhance the theatre’s in-house capability for painted cloths, murals and large-scale scenic finishes.
Breaktime News recently reported on TRP’s Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas providing a festive delivery for children at Derriford Hospital.
