The stage of the Bremen Town Musicians – © Stephan Schlafke
Due to Corona, we worked on the stage design in separate phases. In the first phase we worked with Thomas Rump on the realisation of his stage design concept. The two large existing play tables were to be transformed into a cart for second-hand goods – two large wheels on one side and handles made from axe handles on the other. Many old objects, bolts and pieces of wood were made into a decorative facade. A sack covering the middle legs of the two tables conceals large drawers in which all other small props can then be stowed.
2 play tables as stage substructure 
The “geriatric four” in the robber’s house – everything loosely placed or made of cardboard 
Thomas draping – Silke organises a pile of animals 
Mounting the selected parts 
Assortment of old decorative parts 
The stage almost finished
Production of the stage front with our set designer Thomas Rump – © Stephan Schlafke
The robbers are made of hessian stuffing
The second construction cycle then took place almost a month later with Denise Puri. Denise, as a textile artist, created the four robbers out of coarse burlap, all of them were given a colour impression of the four Bremen Town Musicians: grey, red-brown, orange-ochre and green-red (cock-a-doodle-doo).
Cutting the burlap sacking 
Shaping the burlap into the form of the body 
Tying it all together
Robbers: Donkey, Dog and Cat 
Robbers: Dog, Cat and Cock 
All four are almost finished
The four robbers are created (c) Stefan Schlafke
The stage was tinted with paint to give all the new saw cuts and slightly newer components a patina, providing a uniform vintage look.
The stage with patina (c) Stefan Schlafke
“I could do with a couple of extra hands!”
Franziska was given a costume with a dress and waistcoat. Denise tailored the hat based on a 1920s design with a visor. “I could use two extra hands right now!” exclaimed Denise as she pinned the hat together before being sewn. A pair of knee breeches and a shirt are to be sewn for me; a waistcoat from an old production is also being given the ‘vintage look’.
The hat of the robber! 
Franziska wearing protective clothing while she glues the wooden box together
Hat the pins prepared for sewing 
I could do with a couple of extra hands! 
The hat fits! 
A feast fit for a robber!
Impressions from the workshop – © Stephan Schlafke
Hopefully we can start rehearsing shortly!
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