Peer Gynt – Set Design (Graduation Project)
Vígszínház, Budapest
Writer: Henrik Ibsen-
Director: Lena Schmid
Designer: Jázmin Hársfalvai
Role: Set Designer

Project Overview:

Peer Gynt is a visionary and allegorical play that follows the life of its restless protagonist as he embarks on a journey of self-discovery, illusion, and reckoning. Inspired by Nordic folklore and surrealism, the production explores themes of identity, time, and existential struggle. My goal as the set designer was to translate these themes into a dynamic, ever-changing stage environment that visually reflected Peer’s psychological transformation.

I conceptualized the set as an abstract world, where reality and illusion continuously overlap and shift, mirroring the protagonist’s turbulent journey. The stage featured multiple scenes that evolved in both form and function, reinforcing the fluid and often surreal nature of Peer’s world.

The play opens with a stark, minimalist set design to represent Peer’s humble beginnings, with simple structures that evoke the rawness of the rural landscape. As Peer embarks on his travels, the set begins to transform, introducing more symbolic and fantastical elements that represent his internal struggles and his disconnection from reality. I utilized moving platforms, rotating structures, and projections to create a sense of constant change, mimicking Peer’s changing perceptions of self and the world around him.

In one of the most critical scenes, when Peer faces his identity crisis, the stage becomes a chaotic, fragmented environment filled with distorted reflections and warped spaces. The design here was intentionally disorienting, using mirrors and suspended elements to represent the confusion and internal conflict that Peer experiences. For the final scene, the set reverted back to a simpler design, symbolizing Peer’s return to reality, but with subtle changes that reflect his experiences and the passage of time.

The set was designed to allow for seamless transitions between scenes, with elements that could morph and adapt to the different emotional beats of the production. I drew inspiration from surrealist art to create a dreamlike atmosphere, allowing for a visual representation of Peer’s delusions, desires, and eventual awakening. The goal was to create an immersive world that not only reflected the character's psychological transformation but also engaged the audience on an emotional level, drawing them deeper into Peer’s existential journey.