Art Decoration in Theatrical Productions as a Means of Scenographic Formation of Space

The purpose of the research is to find out the role of scenery in theatrical productions, their types and features of their creation by a production designer. The research methodology is based on the complex use of methods of modern art history, which are aimed at the theoretical and artistic-practical understanding of scenery in theatrical productions; the method of art-historical analysis is used, which makes it possible to investigate the trends of the cultural development of theatre technologies; empirical material is studied in a combination of art studies, theatre studies, cultural studies, and historical approaches; the method of formal and stylistic analysis allows revealing the artistic features of scenographic solutions. The scientific novelty lies in the fact that the article is one of the first analytical works in which the author tries to reveal the multifaceted role of scenery in theatrical productions by analysing the definitions of "scenery”, “theatrical and decorative art”, “scenography” that describe the artistic design of theatrical productions. Conclusions. In the process of analysing the role of scenery in theatrical productions, a completely objective impression was formed that scenery is a type of fine art related to the artistic design of a theatrical performance, the elements of which were rooted in antiquity and with minor changes have reached our days and consist of decorations, noise design, lighting, and props, actors' costumes and make-up. Each element has its own function in achieving theatrical expressiveness, which as a whole creates a single artistic whole, the purpose of which is to create the illusion of a place for a theatrical performance. Scenery in theatrical productions is created by a production designer according to the director's idea, which are closely related to the theatre itself, its development and general trends in modern art and modern theatre, the arrangement of theatre premises and the stage, lighting techniques, equipment and many other conditions. The analysis of the definitions of “scenery”, “theatrical and decorative art”, “scenography”, which are used to describe the artistic design of the stage and space in different ways in the scientific and artistic literature, makes it possible to conclude that the scenery is an important part of almost any theatrical performance, and many theatre artists are recognised as independent creators. Key words: scenery; decorative arts; scenography; theatre and decorative arts; theatre artist.