A Director’s Essential Conversation with Their Set Designer

Originally published by Christopher Peterson on OnStage Blog on June 15, 2025, in “10 Questions Every Director Should Be Asking Their Set Designer.” (Adapted for LighthousePlays.com) 

Why This Matters

Collaboration is at the heart of great theatre. A set designer is far more than someone who builds the scenery—they’re architects of mood, atmosphere, and narrative context. As Christopher Peterson reminds us, the most valuable collaborator is not the one who nods in agreement, but the one who challenges you with better questions . Below are ten questions every director should ask—not just to guide the process, but to unlock richer storytelling.

10 Questions to Shape Theatrical Storytelling

1. What story are we telling with the space?

Go beyond plot mechanics. Ask your designer what emotional arc, tension, or rhythm the set embodies. The set should feel like a living presence—not background scenery. If this emotional role isn’t clear, the audience won’t feel it, either .

2. What’s the metaphor here?

Effective design often rests on metaphor. A broken wall, a staircase leading nowhere—these elements can carry tremendous thematic weight. Ask your designer about the visual thesis behind their design, the subtle metaphor that elevates it from attractive to profound .

3. How will the set support transitions?

Scene changes aren’t just technical necessities—they’re rhythmical beats—moments of suspense, quiet, or levity. Clarifying how the set aids these transitions can preserve—or even enhance—your show’s momentum during tech week .

4. What’s the actor’s relationship to the set?

Are your characters grounded in that world, or at odds with it? The way actors interact with the set—leaning on a table, avoiding a doorway—can communicate volumes about power dynamics, comfort, or fear .

5. What are the limitations we need to name right now?

Be upfront about constraints—budget, spatial quirks, venue limitations. Acknowledging these early fosters creativity and prevents surprises when the clock is ticking .

6. Where can we build in surprises?

Small intentional reveals—a panel that flips open, a window opening onto light—can turn a standard moment into a memorable one. A carefully placed surprise can linger with your audience long after the show ends .

7. What are your inspirations or references?

Seeing your designer’s reference images—maybe something unexpected—can unlock fresh ideas and a richer collaboration. Let it unlock their creative language .

8. How does this set interact with the other design elements?

Scenery doesn’t exist in isolation. Lighting, costumes, and movement all interplay with the set. Ask how these elements sync up to create a cohesive world .

9. What’s our plan for rehearsal logistics?

Details like tape outlines, rehearsal furniture, or scale models may sound mundane—but they make rehearsal smoother. This clarity helps actors and crew focus on what truly matters: the storytelling .

10. What’s something bold you’ve been wanting to try?

This question always brings a spark. Sometimes these ideas make the show—in other cases, just being asked deepens the collaboration and opens the door to risk-taking and innovation .

Final Thoughts

Working with a designer who sees beyond the surface and dares you to dream can transform your production. Trust their vision, ask brave questions, and listen deeply. As Peterson puts it, the best collaborator isn’t the one who agrees—they’re the one who inspires a better show .

Illuminating the Classics: Why New Adaptations of Old Stories Matter

Theatrical adaptations of classic stories have long been a cornerstone of the performing arts. From Shakespeare’s reinterpretation of ancient myths to contemporary takes on Austen and Tolstoy, every generation has found ways to make old stories new. So why should today’s playwrights and directors continue the tradition of adapting classic works for the stage? At Lighthouse Plays, we believe that revisiting and reimagining these stories isn’t just a creative exercise; it’s a vital way to keep theater alive, relevant, and meaningful.

Classics Are Timeless, but Context Is Not

The beauty of a classic story lies in its universal themes—love, power, morality, identity, and resilience. These themes transcend time and geography, but the context in which they were originally written often does not. A story like Antigone speaks powerfully about defiance and duty, but its ancient Greek framework may feel distant or inaccessible to contemporary audiences. By creating new adaptations, we bridge that gap, placing timeless ideas in fresh contexts that resonate more directly with today’s world.

For example, what does Antigone look like in an era of social justice movements and political polarization? How can a modern audience see themselves in her struggle? Adaptations provide the opportunity to answer those questions, making the story feel not just ancient or important, but urgent.

A Platform for New Voices

Reimagining a classic story is a chance to infuse it with the perspectives of those historically excluded from its telling. Playwrights and directors can use adaptation as a lens to explore how race, gender, sexuality, or class shape the narrative. When a classic work is adapted through the eyes of someone whose lived experience differs from the original author’s, the result is often electric. The familiar story becomes a new mirror, reflecting voices and viewpoints that were silent in the original.

Conversations Across Time

A new adaptation invites a dialogue not only between artists and audiences but also between the past and the present. When a classic work is reframed for the modern stage, it prompts us to ask: What has changed in our society? What remains stubbornly the same? These adaptations function as cultural touchstones, helping us measure the progress we’ve made and the challenges we still face.

For example, revisiting a text like The Birds by Aristophanes might reveal striking similarities between ancient Greek political satire and today’s struggles with populism or bureaucracy. By staging a fresh adaptation, we’re not just reviving a story—we’re asking our audiences to grapple with its relevance here and now.

Breathing New Life Into the Theater

Let’s face it: Theater can’t thrive on nostalgia alone. Reviving classics without reinterpretation risks turning them into museum pieces rather than dynamic works of art. Adaptations breathe life into these stories, allowing them to evolve and surprise us. They give artists the freedom to experiment with form, language, and design, often leading to groundbreaking performances that push the boundaries of what theater can do.

For audiences, a well-executed adaptation can be both familiar and startling. It’s an invitation to see a well-loved story through fresh eyes, challenging assumptions and sparking new ideas. For theater makers, adaptations are a playground of possibility—a way to honor tradition while breaking new ground.

A Call to Action

At Lighthouse Plays, we believe that adapting classic stories is more than just a good idea—it’s a necessary one. As artists, we have a responsibility to keep the flame of storytelling alive, to make the old new again, and to illuminate the enduring truths that lie at the heart of these tales. Whether you’re a playwright, a director, or an audience member, we invite you to engage with adaptations as a vital part of theater’s ongoing conversation with the world.

What classic story do you think deserves a fresh take? Let us know in the comments below. And stay tuned for updates on our upcoming productions—where we’re reimagining timeless works to speak to our time.