Posters for Plays Not Yet Written

Art exhibition: Digital prints by Sandy Farrier that represent theater posters for plays that have not yet been written! Colorful, though-provoking images that make one wish these productions were going up soon at the Arakalien Theater in the Firehouse. 

"There are theatre posters, and then there are theatre posters. The worst examples are utilitarian handbills, providing the who-what-when-where and perhaps an innocuous, almost always arbitrary, illustration. They’re passed by, ignored, don’t get people in the seats who wouldn’t have been sitting in them anyway. The best are pieces of art in and of themselves, delivering an arresting visual manifestation of the essence of the play while also conveying the logistical information clearly but simply and unobtrusively. Sandy’s are decidedly in the latter category, deserving of permanent display, suitable for framing. He’s helped a bit by the fact that when the plays don’t yet exist, he can’t get the essence wrong! However, a talented and intuitive actor himself, he can also get under the skin of actual plays in ways deep and provocative. His posters make you want to see THIS play, find your way to THAT theatre, get there ON TIME, and take your seat. And you may also find yourself, after surreptitiously verifying that no one’s watching, carefully removing the poster from its moorings, spiriting it home, and proudly, if guiltily, displaying it in a place of prominence."

Alan Huisman
Development Editor
Heinemann Educational Books
Portsmouth, NH

Artist's Statement - This work bridges three interests of mine: design, photography and theater. A poster concept, or, as creative types refer to it, "the way in," can come from any of those starting points, and often the final design is informed by all three. Shown here are a few of the over 50 different posters from this series. One of these days I need to write the plays to go with them.