How do I analyse and evaluate the dramatic effectiveness of a particular aspect of stage design, from a chosen live performance of a play?

You should first identify the live production you will be using at the basis of your answer, one that you have seen recently either live or as a recording of a live performance. You should then provide a brief history or overview of the written play, its major themes or central plot. Then clearly identify the the two or three design elements of the live production you will be focusing on in your answer and why you have chosen these elements in particular. If possible identify the creative responsible, whether production designer, director, lighting or sound etc. Your answer should then demonstrate an understanding of the deliberate decisions made by members of the design team, and crucially what effect they might have on the audience experience and understanding of the production.Elements of the production design you might chose to explore could be the location and time-period of the staging -whether the production appears rooted in a specific locale, or historical period, or is in some-way a-historical, and how this relates to the themes and setting of the written play. The style of the stage, whether realist, symbolist, or fantastical might also be explored, as well as more practical, physical elements of the production -the shape and size of stage area for example, the use of platforms or levels, stage furniture, or the materials and colours used by the designer. The relationship between the audience and the stage (whether Thrust, Proscenium etc) is also worth considering. At each stage you should relate your response to these elements back to the specific themes or ideas expressed within the play text, supported by relevant quotations where possible.