My goal with the scenic design is to present the school as an institutional space that quietly closes in on itself over time. I want the main environment to be defined by window-like forms inspired by Catholic church architecture, suggesting the order, morality, and openness that they are trying desperately to portray. And over the course of the play, I want these elements to shift closer and closer together, subtly narrowing the stage.
My hope is that the change is slow enough to be unnoticed moment to moment, yet by the final scenes, the space has become visibly compressed, obscured, and intimidating.
This gradual change reflects how the characters act within the world of the play. As authority hardens, the room allows less and less space for questioning.
The windows promise transparency, but the architecture ultimately limits vision, creating an atmosphere where something feels hidden without ever being fully revealed.
By the end of the play, the space itself becomes intimidating, mirroring the moral pressure placed on the characters and the audience alike.