Oroonoko

By Aphra Behn adapted by Biyi Bandele-Thomas

Theoretical Set Design

Directed by Ron Daniels

Advised by Riccardo Hernandez and Oana Botez

Delacorte Theater, New York

2023

Set Designer: Patti Panyakaew

Costume Designer: Caroline Tyson

Lighting Designer: Kyle Stamm

Sound Designer: Minjae Kim

Oroonoko is a story about a tragedy of a good man, focusing on his journey from royalty in Coramantien to slavery in Surinam. He is a natural leader, respected and values the right thing but also easily manipulated. Coramantien's power-hungry court betrays him and that led to his downfall.

The idea of a centralized setting is to focus on the storytelling like that of the one around the fire, where generations gather round to tell or listen to the story. It creates a sense of "fableness". The Delcorte is an ideal setting for this approach. With the semi-circular configuration and its environmental elements of the cosmos, the trees, the water, and the civilization that surrounds it. These act as the set itself.

The ring levels were to explore the power dynamics that can transform from one world of luxurious and adorned to another that is harsh and rough.

In part one, the theme of power plays a part in that of steps to the powerful -- the king. Every action Oroonoko does is to serve the king. However, the dirt that is beneath the stalk floor represents the slavery that exist even in the West African court. As Oroonoko's journey turns toward his downfall, the rings move down to be flat against the ground as we transit to a new world of Surinam.

In part two, the inner rings are push down under and the dirt replaces them. The outer ring act as a space for the masters or the powerful that oppress the powerless. In this setting, the dirt is now wide open -- the slavery is explicit and brutal. Although Oroonoko tries to do the right thing, leading an uprising against their masters, all else fall apart and he dies on the ground of his new homeland.