Jan 53 min read

Twelve Days of Christmas - Favourite Production Design (Day Twelve)

Every single show has a village working behind it. From wigs, hair and makeup, to lighting, sound, special effects and video design, to set design, costume design and prop makers, and choreographers and directors, a show is never the work of an individual. 2024 has seen a large variety, from Jamie Lloyd's more minimalistic approach with Romeo and Juliet and The Tempest, and Stranger Things and Back to The Future focusing more on the special effects, this year has pushed the boundaries of what it means to make art for the better.

Here are a few of the team members' favourite gorgeous and breathtaking production design.

Your Lie in April | Harold Pinter Theatre

"Justin Williams' set is deceptively simple, but captures the manga and anime, bringing it to stage, along with a gorgeous cherry blossom tree. Not to mention, Williams seems to be designing minimalistic yet stunning sets for a new show every few weeks, which is highly impressive."

Oviya

Stranger Things | Phoenix Theatre

"I’ve never been so blown away by the creative elements of a show before. The production is gripping, super ambitious, and I love it, especially as a fan of the tv show."

James

"Stranger Things literally blew me away with special effects that left me with more questions than answers. The lighting and sound design was super eerie and gripping, and literally left my jaw on the floor on more than one occasion!"

Vicky

Starlight Express | Troubadour Theatre

"Undoubtedly among the biggest openings of the year, Starlight Express features impeccable production values in a custom-designed auditorium in Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, where set, lighting, sound, video and costume designs converge to produce a stunning spectacle."

Wyman

Starlight Express goes all out in every aspect but especially so with the lighting by Howard Hudson. With each character and each song having its own personality, with matching lights, it's a visual treat. From the gorgeous starry sky in Starlight Express, to the lasers and strobes in ACDC, and the planetarium, it's a lighting show in its own right.

Oviya

Guys and Dolls | Bridge Theatre

"Visually, this show has to be one of the most effortlessly stunning I have ever seen. The lighting is just perfect, and the sets are so ingenious: bringing to life the streets of New York right before your eyes."

Emma

Lizzie | Hope Mill Theatre

"One thing that always amazes me when visiting Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester is how the intimate space is transformed. The vision for Lizzie was perfectly executed (no pun intended) with the faithful hands of set design and lighting design from Andrew Exeter - cleverly transporting the audience into the world of Lizzie Borden with a claustrophobic barn trapping us into the story, with Dan Light's video design also contributing to the storytelling effortlessly."

Vicky

MJ The Musical | Prince Edward Theatre

"One of my most anticipated shows I wanted transferred from Broadway and it didn’t disappoint. Three viewings this year and each time I’m blown away by the creative elements of this show. From the choreography, to video design and lighting, everything in this production is meticulously thought out."

Jordan

Standing at the Sky’s Edge | Gillian Lynne Theatre

"The set design by Ben Stones is so clever, detailed and massively adds to the plot, used well to show multiple timelines in the same place. It invites the audience into the estate and story, and allows the characters to move around and express themselves."

Katie

Let us know your favourite production design of 2024 and check out the rest of our categories of AIT's Twelve Days of Christmas in the blog section.