The workshop, which took place during the week of June 24th, 2024, is initiated by L’Oréal University for Retail and aimed at drawing inspirations for product and experience design from the principles and techniques of theatre set design. The content of this week-long exercise is developed by renowned French set designer Gilles Taschet, who, throughout a career spanning several decades, has collaborated with some of the most esteemed directors and theater companies, such as Jean-Louis Martinelli during his tenture at the Théâtre des Amandiers in Nanterre, the Théâtre National de Belgique and the Comédie Française as well as professionals including Françoise Gillard, Alain Fromager and Claus Peymann.
Theatre Above
During the first stop of the visit at Theatre Above, the L’Oréal team met with renowned playwright and director Stan Lai, who, since having co-founded the Performance Workshop in Taiwan in 1984, has been a pioneering figure in the realm of Chinese-language theater. He is best known for his play “Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land (暗恋桃花源)” which has achieved classic status and is celebrated for its innovative blend of comedy and drama. Other notable works include “That Evening, We Performed Crosstalk (那一夜，我们说相声)”, “The Village (宝岛一村)” and “A Dream Like a Dream (如梦之梦)”.
At Theatre Above, Mr. Lai and Mr. Taschet engaged in an hour-long dialogue over their respective careers in theatre, compared notes on various aspects of theatre productions in Europe, Asia and the US, and specifically discussed in what ways effective set design could contribute to the production value of a play.
The team was also able to observe the live rehearsal of one scene of the play ONE ONE ZERO EIGHT under the direction of Mr. Lai himself and experience first-hand the transporting magic of theatre.
Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre
The L’Oréal team also visited Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre, a storied place dedicated to the full value chain of theatrical production, from conception to set creation to marketing and distribution.
With the accompaniment of an experienced stage technician and the expertise from Mr. Taschet, the team stepped onto the stage and toured the backstage of two theatre halls, where they observed up-close the workings behind the scenes and gained in-depth knowledge of how sound, light and mechanical devices work together to create unique and coherent theatrical experiences.
