Theoretical Design - Hills like White Elephants

The characters in this play are at a crossroads, and I wanted a visual representation of that on stage. To achieve this, I positioned the train station and train tracks on perpendicular lines, creating an imaginary intersection. Additionally, I have the building angled to draw attention to the dramatic action happening at the table.
The mountains of the Ebro Valley in Spain are mentioned many times throughout the script, and I wanted a physical representation in my design. They also mention the grasses and grains present in the landscape, and I was inspired by those textures. The backdrop of mountains is made of a solid silhouette attached to the ceiling. Hanging from this silhouette are feathers and fringe to emulate the grass and grain texture.
The textures in the set were inspired by both practical research and mood research. The station itself was heavily influenced by an existing train station in the time period, seen below.