As a cultural historian who also works in heritage, I’ve developed my own ‘Atmosphere Check’. It’s based on principles of science communication and the full version actually includes a few more questions.
The idea is simple: to check whether a project is still doing what it’s meant to:
creating a particular atmosphere.
That’s hardly alien to theatre-making either, so I’ve slimmed the checklist down a bit here specifically for theatre-makers.
🪁 Topic
🪁
What’s the story?
🪁
What story do I actually want to tell?
🪁
What central idea drives the story?
🪁
What story or experience could lead into it?
🪁
What is the core of my story?
🪁
Why is this story matter to us?
🪁
Is there a key moment or detail that captures it all?
🪁
How can I connect my story to the present?
🫂 Audience
🫂
Who am I telling this to?
🫂
Who will it speak to? Who might be moved by it?
🫂
How can I help the audience see themselves in it?
🫂
What perspectives or emotions do I want to bring out?
🫂
How much does the audience need to know to engage? And what can I assume they already know?
🫂
How does my audience relate to the topic?
🫂
What questions might my audience ask straight away?
🎯 Goal
🎯
What remains? What should my audience feel, question or take away?
🎯
What should the story leave behind? And what do I want it to leave with them?
🎯
What should resonate after someone has seen, read or heard it?
🎯
And, by extension: How should the story be anchored in memory? This leads to the question: What emotions should the story evoke?
🎯
Which three ideas or images should stay with them?
🎯
What could surprise the audience or make them rethink?
🎯
How can I open a conversation rather than just deliver information?
🎯
How can I sustain interest rather than just create a passing moment?
🎯
What other questions could arise from this? And how might it encourage the audience to think further?
🎨 Media & Style
🎨
How do I tell it?
🎨
What kind of atmosphere do I want to create?
🎨
How do I create a narrative pull?
🎨
Which stage design, tech, lights, etc. best brings the story to life?
🎨
Which sensory impressions enhance the experience?
🎨
Can I create an immersive experience?
🎨
How can I design my style so that my audience not only understands, but feels?
🎨
What hook or element of surprise could I use to capture interest?
🔧 Format
🔧
How do I make it work?
🔧
What is my smallest possible starting point?
🔧
How can I make the best use of my resources?
🔧
What would I say if I had to tell this story in just three sentences? And what if I had 30 minutes?
🔧
What other resources do I need?
