Will Simpson

Theatre · Nottingham Playhouse · 2020

Moonlight and Magnolias

Gone with the Wind, projected across the stage.

My role: Projection Design

The Moonlight and Magnolias company on the Nottingham Playhouse stage

Projection design for Nottingham Playhouse's production of Ron Hutchinson's screwball comedy, staged from 21 February to 7 March 2020.

The play locks producer David O. Selznick, screenwriter Ben Hecht and director Victor Fleming into Selznick's office for five frantic days as they attempt to rescue Gone with the Wind.

My video sequences brought period film material into Tim Meacock's single-room set. The imagery moves between a framed cinema screen and projections that spread across the office walls, changing the scale and atmosphere of an otherwise fixed room.

Production photographs

The full company performing against the sunset window design
Pl. 01 The full company performing against the sunset window design
The company performing in a cool-lit scene inside Selznick's office
Pl. 02 The company performing in a cool-lit scene inside Selznick's office
Period film imagery projected across the office walls
Pl. 03 Period film imagery projected across the office walls
Architectural film imagery mapped across the full office setting
Pl. 04 Architectural film imagery mapped across the full office setting

Making the projection design

Playback, communications and cueing equipment during the theatre fit-up
Pl. 01 Playback, communications and cueing equipment during the theatre fit-up
Programming the projection cues from the Nottingham Playhouse auditorium
Pl. 02 Programming the projection cues from the Nottingham Playhouse auditorium
Selznick's desk, prop telephones and the auditorium beyond the office set
Pl. 03 Selznick's desk, prop telephones and the auditorium beyond the office set
Programming the period film sequence on the stage screen
Pl. 04 Programming the period film sequence on the stage screen
Credits