Contrast in Theatre: 6 Helpful Explanations

The importance of contrast in theatre is one of the easier concepts for students to learn and comprehend in Drama and Theatre Arts courses. This is mostly due to the straightforward definition of the term. However, theatre students also require concrete examples to solidify their understanding. This article offers dozens of explanations of the effective use of contrast in professional productions from Broadway, the West End, and elsewhere. These examples indicate how the successful use of contrast in areas such as acting and characterisation, set design, lighting design, sound design, and costume design can significantly enhance a theatre production. Contrast adds depth, dynamism, and meaning to a theatrical experience, engaging audiences on multiple levels.

1. Definition of Contrast in Theatre

At its core, contrast in theatre relies on the juxtaposition of opposing or dissimilar elements within the same space or time. This can involve visual contrasts, such as light and shadow, vibrant and muted colours, or minimalist and ornate set designs. It can also encompass auditory contrasts, like silence and sound, harmony and discord, or naturalistic and stylised use of voice. Thematic and emotional contrasts are equally important, as they can highlight conflicting ideas, moral dilemmas, or character relationships within a play.

The power of contrast lies in its ability to create tension, elicit emotional responses, and prompt the audience to engage with the material critically. By presenting opposing elements side by side, theatre artists can challenge viewers’ expectations, provoke thought, and encourage a deeper examination of the play’s themes and messages.

2. Contrast in Production Elements

a) Acting and Characterisation

Actors and directors use contrast in characterisation to create dynamic, multi-dimensional performances that captivate audiences and illuminate the play’s themes. They can juxtapose contrasting emotions, behaviours, and personality traits within a single character or emphasise the differences between characters to highlight their relationships and conflicts.

Examples From Professional Theatre

1. In the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of “King Lear” (2016), actor Antony Sher portrayed the titular character with a mix of grandeur and vulnerability, contrasting moments of regal authority with instances of childlike helplessness to convey the character’s descent into madness and despair.
2. In the Broadway production of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” (2014), actor Neil Patrick Harris portrayed the title character with a blend of fierce confidence and deep insecurity. The contrast between Hedwig’s brash, flamboyant stage persona and her moments of raw emotional vulnerability highlighted the character’s complex journey of self-discovery and acceptance.
3. For the Royal National Theatre’s production of “Frankenstein” (2011), actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller alternated roles as Victor Frankenstein and his Creature. The contrasting performances emphasised the characters’ shared humanity and the blurred lines between creator and creation, underlining the play’s themes of ambition, responsibility, and the nature of existence.
4. In the Donmar Warehouse’s production of “Julius Caesar” (2012), actor Harriet Walter portrayed the traditionally male role of Brutus with a mix of stoicism and emotional depth. The contrast between Brutus’ public persona of strength and leadership and his private moments of doubt and vulnerability added complexity to the character. It highlighted the play’s themes of power, loyalty, and moral ambiguity.
5. Actress Billie Piper’s performance in the Young Vic’s production of “Yerma” (2016) featured stark contrasts between the character’s initial optimism and desire for motherhood and her subsequent despair and obsession. Piper’s portrayal of Yerma’s emotional extremes underscored the play’s themes of society’s pressure, personal identity, and the devastating impact of unfulfilled longing.

b) Set Design

Set designers can create visual contrast by juxtaposing different architectural styles, colour palettes, or levels of detail within the same space. A set might feature a mix of opulent and dilapidated elements to reflect the characters’ contrasting social status, or it may incorporate abstract and realistic components to convey a play’s thematic complexity.

Examples From Professional Theatre

1. In the musical Hamilton, designer David Korins created a set that juxtaposed rough, unfinished wood with refined, elegant furniture and decor. This contrast helped convey the revolutionary spirit and shifting social dynamics at the story’s heart.
2. For Tony Kushner’s play Angels in America at the National Theatre (2017), designer Ian MacNeil used a minimalistic set featuring a large, revolving platform with various interchangeable elements. The stark contrast between the barren stage and the detailed, realistic props and furniture highlighted the characters’ isolation and the play’s themes of social and personal transformation.
3. In the Royal Shakespeare Company’s 2010 production of “King Lear,” designer Jon Bausor created a set that contrasted a sleek, modern corporate office with a bleak, post-apocalyptic wasteland. This visual juxtaposition underscored the play’s themes of power, corruption, and the collapse of order.
4. Designer Es Devlin’s set for the National Theatre’s 2017 production of “Follies” by Stephen Sondheim featured a crumbling, abandoned theatre that transformed into a glamorous, fully-restored space as the characters relived their past glories. The stark contrast between decay and splendour echoed the characters’ nostalgia and regret.

Contrast in Theatre Infographic

c) Lighting Design

Lighting designers can use contrast to create visual interest, guide the audience’s focus, and evoke specific moods or atmospheres. Contrasting light and shadow, warm and cool colours, or sharp and diffused lighting can highlight the tensions within a scene or emphasi\se the emotional states of the characters.

Examples From Professional Theatre

1. In the Broadway production of “The Lion King” (1997), designer Donald Holder used contrasting warm and cool colours to differentiate between the African savanna and the haunting scenes in Scar’s lair, emphasising the characters’ emotional journeys.
2. In the Royal National Theatre’s production of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” (2012), designer Paule Constable used stark contrasts between bright, clinical lighting and warmer, softer tones to reflect the protagonist’s unique perspective and sensory experiences. The harsh, fluorescent lighting in certain scenes conveyed the character’s discomfort in overwhelming situations, while the gentler, warm lighting signified moments of comfort and understanding.
3. In “The Pillowman” by Martin McDonagh, the stark contrast between the harsh interrogation room lighting and the soft, dreamlike lighting of the storytelling sequences underscores the play’s themes of reality, fiction, and the power of imagination.
4. For the Broadway production of “The Ferryman” (2018), designer Peter Mumford juxtaposed warm, inviting lighting in the family home with cold, eerie lighting in the scenes set outside the house. This contrast heightened the sense of unease and foreboding that permeated the play, underscoring its themes of family, loyalty, and the consequences of past actions.
5. In the Almeida Theatre’s production of “Hamlet” (2017), designer Jane Cox used contrasting lighting to differentiate between the play’s various locations and to reflect the characters’ emotional states. The ghost scenes were lit with cool, unsettling shades of blue, while the court scenes featured warmer, more inviting tones. This contrast emphasized the play’s themes of appearance versus reality and the characters’ internal struggles.
6. Designer Neil Austin’s lighting for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of “Macbeth” (2018) featured stark contrasts between light and shadow, with intense, focused spots highlighting key moments of drama and tension. The use of deep shadows and silhouettes created a sense of unease and moral ambiguity, reflecting the characters’ psychological turmoil and the play’s dark themes.

d) Sound Design

Sound designers can employ contrast to create auditory interest, evoke specific emotions, or underscore thematic tensions. Contrasting silence and sound, acoustic and electronic music, or naturalistic and stylised sound effects can heighten the impact of key moments and contribute to the overall atmosphere of a production.

Examples From Professional Theatre

1. In the Royal Exchange Theatre’s production of “Macbeth” (2019), designer Pete Malkin juxtaposed eerie, unsettling soundscapes with moments of stark silence to heighten the play’s sense of tension and foreboding. The contrasting auditory elements underscored the characters’ psychological turmoil and the play’s dark themes of ambition, guilt, and the supernatural.
2. For the Broadway production of “Angels in America” (2018), designer Adrian Sutton used contrasting musical styles to differentiate between the play’s various settings and time periods. The scenes set in the 1980s featured electronic and synthesizer-based music, while the historical and supernatural scenes incorporated more traditional, orchestral scores. This contrast helped to delineate the different narratives and emphasize the play’s themes of societal and personal transformation.
3. In the Young Vic’s production of “A View from the Bridge” (2014), designer Tom Gibbons used contrasting soundscapes to reflect the characters’ emotional states and the escalating tension within the story. The sound design juxtaposed moments of quiet, intimate dialogue with intense, percussive outbursts, mirroring the characters’ internal conflicts and the play’s themes of repression and betrayal.
4. In the Broadway production of “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” (2014), designer Ian Dickinson used contrasting soundscapes to reflect the protagonist’s unique perspective. Jarring, discordant noises represented his sensory overload, while more soothing, melodic sounds signified moments of clarity and understanding.
5. Designer Adam Cork’s sound design for the National Theatre’s production of “The Lehman Trilogy” (2018) featured contrasting musical genres and styles to represent the changing times and fortunes of the Lehman family. The music transitioned from traditional Jewish folk songs to jazz and contemporary electronic pieces, reflecting the characters’ evolving identities and the play’s themes of capitalism, success, and failure.

e) Costume Design

Costume designers can use contrast to convey character relationships, social hierarchies, or individual transformations throughout a play. Contrasting colours, textures, styles, or levels of ornamentation can visually distinguish between characters or groups and reflect their contrasting personalities, beliefs, or roles within the story.

Examples From Professional Theatre

1. In the Broadway production of Les Misérables (1987), designer Andreane Neofitou used contrasting costumes to differentiate between the wealthy and the poor. The aristocrats wore luxurious, brightly coloured garments, while the lower classes wore muted, ragged clothing.
2. In the Broadway production of “Wicked” (2003), designer Susan Hilferty used contrasting colours to distinguish between the two lead characters. Glinda, the “good witch,” wore light, sparkly dresses in shades of white and pink, while Elphaba, the “wicked witch,” donned dark, edgy outfits in shades of black and green. This contrast highlighted their opposing personalities and roles within the story.
3. For the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of “Macbeth” (2011), designer Georgina Kinane juxtaposed modern military uniforms with medieval-inspired garments. This contrast emphasises the timelessness of the play’s themes and the characters’ internal conflicts between loyalty and ambition.
4. In the National Theatre’s production of “Twelfth Night” (2017), designer Soutra Gilmour used contrasting styles to reflect the characters’ personalities and social status. The aristocratic characters wore sleek, contemporary suits and dresses, while the lower-class characters donned mismatched, eccentric outfits. This visual contrast underscored the play’s themes of identity, disguise, and social hierarchy.
5. Designer Paul Tazewell’s costumes for the Broadway production of “Hamilton” (2015) featured a mix of 18th-century silhouettes and modern fabrics and colours. This contrast between historical and contemporary elements mirrored the show’s innovative blend of hip-hop and traditional musical theatre, highlighting its themes of revolution and cultural change.

3. Contrast and Storytelling

Contrast plays a crucial role in effective storytelling, as it helps to create dramatic tension, propel character development, and highlight thematic conflicts. By juxtaposing contrasting elements within a narrative, playwrights and directors can engage audiences emotionally and intellectually, encouraging them to grapple with complex ideas and moral dilemmas.

Examples From Professional Theatre

1. In the musical “Hamilton” (2015), the contrast between Alexander Hamilton’s humble beginnings as an orphaned immigrant and his rise to become one of America’s founding fathers is a central theme. This juxtaposition highlights the play’s themes of ambition, legacy, and the American Dream, engaging audiences in a compelling narrative that spans decades.
2. The Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of “Macbeth” (2018) emphasised the contrast between the play’s supernatural elements and the psychological realism of the characters. Director Polly Findlay juxtaposed eerie, stylised sequences featuring the witches with more naturalistic scenes focused on Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s emotional turmoil. This contrast heightened the sense of unease and moral ambiguity, drawing the audience deeper into the characters’ inner lives and the play’s exploration of power, ambition, and guilt.
3. In the National Theatre’s production of “Angels in America” (2017), the contrast between the play’s intimate, personal narratives and its sweeping, epic scope underscores the interconnectedness of the characters’ lives and the broader social and political issues they faced. Director Marianne Elliott juxtaposed scenes of raw emotional vulnerability with grand, surreal sequences featuring supernatural beings and historical figures, creating a rich, layered storytelling experience that engaged audiences on multiple levels.
4. In “A Streetcar Named Desire” by Tennessee Williams, the contrast between Blanche DuBois’ fading Southern gentility and Stanley Kowalski’s raw, animalistic masculinity drives the play’s central conflict and underscores the themes of fantasy, reality, and the decline of the Old South. The juxtaposition of these contrasting characters and their respective worlds creates a palpable tension that keeps the audience engaged and invested in the story.
5. The Broadway production of “Dear Evan Hansen” (2016) used contrast to explore the complexities of human connection in the digital age. The juxtaposition of Evan’s isolated, anxious inner world with the vibrant, fast-paced world of social media highlighted the challenges of forming authentic relationships and the consequences of deception. This contrast created a poignant and relatable story that resonated with audiences, encouraging them to reflect on their own experiences and the impact of technology on modern communication.
6. In “Rent,” the contrast between the struggling artists’ bohemian lifestyle and the harsh realities of poverty, addiction, and the AIDS crisis serves as a powerful commentary on the challenges faced by marginalised communities in the face of adversity. The juxtaposition of joyous musical numbers and heartbreaking moments of loss and despair highlights the characters’ resilience and the transformative power of love and friendship.

4. Balancing Contrast and Cohesion

While contrast is a powerful tool in theatre, it is essential to balance contrasting elements and overall cohesion within a production. Too much contrast can be jarring or disorienting for the audience, detracting from the story’s impact and emotional resonance. On the other hand, too little contrast may result in a flat experience that fails to capture the audience’s attention or imagination.

Examples From Professional Theatre

1. In the Broadway production of “The Lion King” (1997), director Julie Taymor and her design team created a visually stunning world that blended contrasting elements of African culture, traditional theatrical techniques, and innovative puppetry. The juxtaposition of elaborate, stylised costumes and masks with more naturalistic animal puppets and set pieces created a cohesive, immersive experience that transported audiences to the African savanna while conveying the story’s mythical qualities.
2. The Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of “The Tempest” (2016), directed by Gregory Doran, balanced contrasting elements of magic, technology, and human emotion. The production featured a sleek, modern set with interactive digital projections that contrasted with the organic nature of the island setting.
3. In the National Theatre’s production of “The Lehman Trilogy” (2018), director Sam Mendes and designer Es Devlin created a minimalist, rotating glass box set that served as a versatile backdrop for the play’s spanning 164 years. The contrasting use of sparse, symbolic props and expressive lighting within this unchanging space helped to convey the passage of time and the characters’ evolving fortunes while maintaining a sense of continuity and cohesion throughout the epic narrative.
4. The Broadway production of “A Raisin in the Sun” (2014), directed by Kenny Leon, balanced the contrasting elements of the characters’ individual struggles and their shared family dynamics. The detailed, period-specific set design of the Youngers’ cramped apartment contrasted with the characters’ expansive dreams and aspirations, creating a cohesive and emotionally resonant portrait of a family striving to overcome adversity and achieve a better life.

5. The Impact of Contrast on the Audience

Effective use of contrast in theatre can have a powerful impact on the audience, provoking emotional responses, sparking intellectual engagement, and fostering a deeper connection to the characters and themes of a play. By presenting opposing or dissimilar elements in close proximity, theatre artists can challenge the audience’s preconceptions, encourage critical thinking, and create memorable, thought-provoking experiences.

Contrast can also serve to heighten the emotional impact of key moments in a production. The juxtaposition of joy and sorrow, hope and despair, or love and hate can create a visceral response in the audience, eliciting laughter, tears, or a deep sense of catharsis. In “Angels in America,” the contrast between the intimate, personal struggles of the characters and the sweeping, apocalyptic visions of the play’s fantastical elements creates a powerful emotional and intellectual experience for the audience, one that lingers long after the final curtain call.

Contrast can serve as a means of social commentary, highlighting the inequalities, contradictions, and tensions within society. By juxtaposing contrasting elements that reflect real-world issues and experiences, theatre can raise awareness, spark dialogue, and inspire change. In “The Laramie Project,” the contrast between the small-town values of Laramie, Wyoming, and the brutal hate crime committed against Matthew Shepard serves as a poignant commentary on the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance in America.

6. Challenges and Rewards of Incorporating Contrast

Incorporating contrast in theatre comes with its own set of challenges and rewards. Theatre artists must navigate the delicate balance between creating striking, meaningful contrasts and maintaining overall cohesion within a production. They must also consider the practical limitations of the theatre space, budget, and available resources when making design and staging choices.

Despite these challenges, the rewards of successfully incorporating contrast in theatre are substantial. A production that effectively harnesses the power of contrast has the potential to create unforgettable experiences for both the artists and the audience. By provoking emotional responses, sparking intellectual engagement, and fostering a deeper connection to the characters and themes, contrast can elevate a theatrical work from mere entertainment to an intense and meaningful exploration of the human experience.