The Rebus Principles

The rebus is a signature feature. It is easy to recognize and stands out in the world of theatre and in general. It is used for external communication - meaning that the rebus is primarily used when communicating about a specific play outside of the theatre (the streets, media, adds, etc).

The rebus was inspired by old publicity images for Ingmar Bergman’s film Persona, in which the meaning and intensity of the play is condensed into four small squares with close-ups of the actress. This gave birth to the idea that the meaning of a play can be condensed into small units who, when combined, spell out the play itself - an idea that goes well with the over-all idea of stripping the theatre to its bare essentials (in stark contrast to current trends where elaborate and cinematic photographs advertise every play - and give it all away in one go).

Furthermore, the rebus is a fun way to activate the spectator of the rebus. They will automatically start to deduce an essence and assemble the elements in their mind into a cohesive idea. Malmö Stadsteater believes in stimulating the curiosity of its audience!

When working with the rebus, the director of the play and the communication team will have to collaborate on identifying the most potent objects, quotes or illustrations to get the message across.

REBUS SYSTEM FOR PLAYS

When communicating about or advertising a play, there are certain types of elements that can be combined. They are:

• Objects: symbolic objects that characterize or represent the play either by being a talked-about item/phenomena, an actual object in the play or a symbol that captures the essence of the drama. In the classic case of Hamlet, it would typically (however predictably) be the skull. In new plays, it is up to the director to identify objects that capture the meaning or essence.

  NB: actual props from the play should not be used unless they are generic enough to be easily understood and can be photographed in the correct, neutral style. (See Photography).

• Actors: the main actor(s) of the play.

• Quote: a poignant and captivating quotation from the play, that captures the essence of the play and is funny, ironic or mysterious, etc - according to the specific genre.

• Illustration: an illustration done with blue marker that comments on or adds to the understanding of the play. Can be humorous or satirical or neutral - but always interesting and “personal”.

INSIDE/OUTSIDE