Head Over Heels — Theatre SilCo

Design Notes

For Head Over Heels, I partnered with director Josh Walden to craft a scenic design that channels the bold, unapologetic spirit of the Go-Go’s and reimagines ancient Arcadia through the lens of 1980s club culture. We drew inspiration from the vibrant visual language of New York’s legendary Palladium nightclub—a space where theatre, fashion, and music collided under pulsing lights and graphic intensity.

The set was built to feel like an immersive party. Pop Art motifs, geometric shapes, and vivid neon-inspired colors formed the foundation of a modular world that could transform fluidly between scenes. Instead of traditional medieval architecture, we leaned into a playful visual mashup—where columns might glow with electric pinks, and castle facades borrowed from record sleeve graphics rather than classical stonework.

A custom palette of high-saturation tones helped amplify the show’s irreverent tone. Throughout the performance, shifting panels, stylized platforms, and dynamic projection elements allowed each location to evolve in tandem with the characters’ emotional arcs—offering visual rhythm to match the pulse of the Go-Go’s music.

Our goal was to honor the themes of transformation, identity, and freedom that pulse through the script, while embedding the design with a pop sensibility that felt fresh and theatrical. Whether evoking a dance floor, a throne room, or a forest of fabulous confusion, the design never lost sight of the show’s core: joy, rebellion, and love in all its forms.

Ultimately, the scenic world for Head Over Heels acted as a visual celebration—of queerness, of musical energy, and of theatre’s power to transport. This wasn’t about nostalgia; it was about capturing the momentum of a cultural moment and letting it play out in full technicolor glory.