What is a Sound Designer?
I am often asked this question by a variety of interested people. Students, friends, family, colleagues, the barber, the taxi driver after a press night...
The short answer
The short answer is that theatre sound designer's are responsible for everything the audience hears in a production. How the sound designer carries out that role is largely dependent on the style of the show, the venue, and the vision of the director. The requirements for Sound Design on a commercial West End musical can be dramatically different to a piece of new writing in a studio style theatre, the experienced sound designer adapts to the demands of each individual project. Normally sound designers join a production ahead of rehearsals starting and stay with the show until opening night - traditionally the official opening night of the show's run.
Naturally, my more detailed answer to this question will be shaped by my particular stylistic preferences and my professional background. I came to sound design for theatre via a meandering journey of directing and writing my own work during and after sixth form, working as a venue technician and recording studio engineer (having dropped out of a degree in Theatre Studies after 6 weeks of nothing much!) and later bringing my artistic and technical specialisms together as a Sound Designer. I like to bring this love of storytelling and text together with a varied and creative interest in sound technology, along with excellent teamwork and people skills to collaborate with other creative team members, the technical staff, and the performers.
The Longer Answer...
Pre-production
I am normally approached by a director, writer or producer in the early stages of a productions life. The show may still be casting and, if working in the world of new writing - which I often am, the script may still be dramatically different to the version we will work with in technical rehearsals.
At this stage I will have conversations with the director around their vision for the piece and conversations with the producers and production manager around the budget and technical resources available for the show. This sets the artistic, financial and technical parameters that my sound design will be required to work within.
Reading the script
Sourcing and making sounds
System design
Technical rehearsals
Previews
Remounts, transfers, and tours
