THE SECOND SHEPHERD'S PLAY - HPT - 1986

And now with Christmas upon us once again I'd like to relate some of the process behind the HIP POCKET THEATRE production of THE SECOND SHEPHERD'S PLAY at the KIMBELL ART MUSEUM in 1986.

This seldom produced Medieval Cycle Play was one of 14 known to exist which were performed by local Guilds on traveling wagons during the 14th and 15th centuries in England. Each play covered a different story from the Bible and were used to educate the populace and encourage them to seek solice in the Church.

We needed a play to perform at the Kimbell in November and December of that year and I suggested this based on my minor studies at TEXAS WESLEYAN COLLEGE.

The rendering above is pen and ink on architect's velum with reverse coloring. The raked stage I had designed earlier in the same year for our production of THE THREE CUCKOLDS was utilized again here. I added a stationary central platform.

This blank space was all the audience saw upon entering the auditorium. As the play began, the actors transported all the scenic elements and banners down the aisle leading up to the stage and "constructed" the set before the eyes of the audience.  Time constraints led to a simplification of the banners graphics, but the actual set hewed very closly to this original design.