Abstract:
This study explores the potential of repurposing discarded egg crates, cartons, and
polythene as sustainable alternatives to conventional materials, particularly plywood, in set
design practice in Ghana. Conventional materials, while long favoured, present significant
challenges including excessive weight, high costs, limited portability, and environmental
degradation. Through artistic exploration, this study investigates the aesthetic, functional, and
economic viability of the selected repurposed materials. The findings reveal that egg crates,
cartons, and polythene offer considerable advantages: they are lightweight, artistically versatile,
cost-effective, environmentally sustainable, and adaptable for dynamic stage design. Positive
feedback from collaborators and participants validated the creative and practical benefits of
using repurposed materials. The study concludes that integrating repurposed materials into set
design practices offers a viable solution to many of the logistical, financial, and environmental
limitations associated with conventional materials. It recommends that set designers and theatre
practitioners continue to explore and innovate with other discarded materials, contributing to
the evolving discourse on sustainability within Ghanaian theatre practice.