Scenic Design - Drama
02
2020

The Penelopiad — University of California, Irvine

A woman in a silver gown standing on stage with ancient Greek-style columns and a backdrop of orange sunset with tree roots hanging from above. 
Scenic Design Rendering created in Vectorworks.
Stage scene with eight women, one standing in the center in a green dress, and seven others around her manipulating red fabric or ribbons, with a backdrop of a large moon and red pillar.

Design Notes

For The Penelopiad, I approached the scenic design as a visual bridge between myth and modernity—honoring the ancient source material while situating its themes firmly within a contemporary context. Working from Margaret Atwood’s powerful retelling, I sought to create a space where Penelope’s voice, so often overshadowed in classical myth, could take center stage in a world both timeless and immediate.

The set draws heavily from the silhouettes of ancient Greek architecture—columns, steps, and fractured structures that evoke temples long abandoned. But these classical forms are rendered in raw concrete and distressed steel, materials chosen for their modern industrial weight and emotional resonance. This material juxtaposition underscores the harshness of Penelope’s world while reminding the audience that the struggles she and her maids endure are not relics of the past—they echo across centuries.

A stark color palette, dominated by slate gray, rust, and ash tones, creates an atmosphere of emotional gravity. Elevated platforms and fragmented steps allow for dynamic movement while reinforcing a sense of imbalance and eroded power. Above it all, a netted scrim, suggestive of weaving or entrapment, hangs in fragmented layers—mirroring Penelope’s own loom and the invisible systems that bind the women of the story.

The design is intentionally spare, forcing focus onto the performers and their collective storytelling. As the maids become chorus, witness, and memory, the space transforms into a haunting courtroom, a distant island, and a domestic prison—all without changing a single flat. This minimalism gives the text and performances room to breathe while quietly reinforcing the violence, erasure, and strength at the heart of the piece.

Ultimately, the set serves as both a ruin and a reckoning—a space where forgotten voices demand to be heard, and where ancient myths are stripped bare under modern light.

Two women sitting on a bed on a dark stage, with one holding the other's stomach, suggesting a theatrical scene.

Creative Team

Written by Margaret Atwood

Directed by Sarah Rodriguez

Composed by Luke Shepherd

Scenic Design by Brandon PT Davis

Costume Design by Sarah Monaghan

Lighting Design by Avery Reagan

Sound Design by Jack Bueermann

Projection Design by Merle DeWitt III

Theater scene with four women in ancient Greek-style costumes, one woman standing on a raised platform with arms outstretched, set against a dark background with columns and a cloudy sky.
A group of dancers on stage performing a ballet with a large full moon backdrop.
A group of women in white dresses performing a dance on stage with a background of a full moon and purple sky.
Theater scene with nine women in white dresses performing in front of blue backdrop with large tree shadow, stone pillars, and rocky stage.
A theatrical stage scene with seven women in white dresses standing in a row, and two women seated on the ground in front of them, illuminated by blue stage lighting, with dark surroundings.
A group of six female performers dancing on stage, dressed in white costumes with black harnesses and gladiator-style footwear, with a dark background and stage lighting.
A group of dancers performing on stage under dramatic lighting, wearing costumes with white and dark colors, and holding coordinated poses.
Six women on stage in ancient Greek-style costumes, with two standing on steps and four seated around her, set against a dark backdrop with faux ruins and a tree branch overhead.
Theatrical stage performance with eleven women in white dresses, illuminated by red and white stage lights, standing in front of columns and set pieces, with fog effects.
Young girls dressed as ancient Greek or Roman figures in white dresses with black accents, forming a formation on stage with purple lighting and a full moon backdrop.
A theatrical stage performance with eight women dressed in white Grecian-style dresses lifting glasses, others standing, and a woman on a platform behind them, with jungle-themed props and blue lighting.