scensättning

Scensättning is the process of staging a theatre or film production, focusing on the arrangement of space, actors, and objects to tell the story. It includes blocking (planning actor movements and entrances/exits), set design, props, lighting, sound, and costumes, as well as the overall spatial and visual concept. The term is commonly used in Swedish theatre to refer to the collaborative work between the director (regissör) and the scenographer (scenograf) or production designer. The result is a concrete plan that guides rehearsals and technical rehearsals, often documented in ground plans, light plots, and cue sheets.

In practice, scensättning begins with a concept or interpretation of the script, followed by design proposals for sets, costumes, and lighting. The director and scenographer collaborate to translate the text into a spatial composition, rhythm, and mood. Blocking diagrams and ground plans map where actors move, when they enter and exit, and how the audience views the action. During rehearsals, adjustments are made as lighting, sound, and set pieces are refined.

The concept of scensättning overlaps with the broader French term mise-en-scène and with the Swedish term scenografi. In film and television, similar processes apply, though camera placement and editing may be included as part of mise-en-scène. Scensättning is essential for storytelling, atmosphere, and clarity of action.