[ Buchtipp von Tarik Bary ] The book discusses scenography which is defined by the author as creating space on stage. The author says that scenography is not an isolated art; it is more than just background for actors. She adds that scenography is a joint communiqué by the director and the scenographer. She then reviews the history of scenography since post WW II till the present time. With the progress of scenography, the responsibilities of the stage designer have changed. A scenographer today receives advice from a line of theater workers, starting from production planning to decoration and costume workers. The author points out that the scenographer's understanding starts with grasping the potentials of the empty space on the stage, then the text and lastly music which changes empty space into an auditorium.

The author then reviews her experience as a scenographer. She says that she starts her job in a play by drawing an outline within which she puts all the places where the events of the play will take place. She then states that scenographer's eyes are those of an artist. If some artist decides to work in theater as a stage designer s/he has to know all aspects of the work including the director's ideas, the text and the imaginary spaces appropriate for the work. She compares a scenographer to an architect who lays her/his own concept on a sketch.
This book is an important piece of writing since it sheds light on one of the unknown soldiers in the field of theatre.

The book has 210 pages, an introduction seven chapters and a conclusion.
Chapter I: Space: measure by measure: Playing in space
Chapter II: The text: The hidden story
Chapter III: Research: Question and answer finding
Chapter IV: Colour and composition: Balance game
Chapter V: Direction and way finding
Chapter VI: Performers: actors, scenographers
Chapter VII: The audience: The big puzzle

The book is translated into Arabic by Mahmoud Kamel. The ISBN and the publisher refer to the Arabic translation.

[ Info ] Howard, Pamela: What is Scenography?. Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre, Cairo, 2003 . ISBN: 977-305-764-x.