Costume designers create the look of each character by designing clothes and accessories the actors will wear in performance. Depending on their style and complexity, costumes may be made, bought, revamped out of existing stock or rented.
The shapes, colors and textures that a designer chooses make an immediate and powerful visual statement to the audience. Creative collaboration among the costume designer, the director and the set and lighting designers ensures that the costumes are smoothly integrated into the production as a whole.
Stage costumes can provide audiences with information about a character's occupation, social status, gender, age, sense of style and tendencies towards conformity or individualism. As well, costumes can:
- reinforce the mood and style of the production
- distinguish between major and minor characters
- suggest relationships between characters
- change an actor's appearance
- suggest changes in character development and age
- be objects of beauty in their own right.
Costume designs also need to include any accessories such as canes, hats, gloves, shoes, jewelry or masks. These costume props add a great deal of visual interest to the overall costume design. They are often the items that truly distinguish one character from another.
The designer's work
Costume designers begin their work by reading the script to be produced. If the production is set in a specific historical era, the fashions of this period will need to be researched. To stimulate the flow of ideas at the first meeting with the director and the design team (set, costume, lighting and sound designers), the costume designer may want to present a few rough costume sketches. This is also an appropriate time to check with the director on the exact number of characters needing costumes, as any non-speaking characters the director plans to include may not have been listed in the script.
It is the costume designer's responsibility to draw up the costume plot. The costume plot is a list or chart that shows which characters appear in each scene, what they are wearing and their overall movement throughout the play. This helps track the specific costume needs of every character. It can also identify any potential costume challenges, such as very quick changes between scenes.
When the director and production team have approved the costume designer's preliminary sketches, she or he can draw up the final costume designs. The final designs are done in full color. They show the style, silhouette, textures, accessories and unique features of each costume.
Once the show opens, the designer's work is essentially complete. Now it's normally the job of a wardrobe assistant to make sure that every aspect of the production runs just as the designer intended, time after time, until the production closes.
Sample Job Description
More Resources
- Sample Contracts. A contract need not be complicated. It may be enough to list basic responsibilities, as can be seen in these downloadable contracts, provided in MS Word format by an AACT-member theatre. More contracts are available to AACT-member companies in our online Resource Library.
- Full job descriptions for many positions are available to companies who take part in AACTivity.
- Further Reading: What We Do - Working in the Theatre
, by Bo Metzler - Job Listings: AACT's list of current employment opportunities posted by theatres around the country. These typically include job descriptions, which can be helpful in better understanding the position's purpose and requirements.
- Click here for more on the benefits of AACT membership.
, As a seasoned expert in the field of costume design for theatrical productions, I have dedicated years to honing my craft and contributing to the world of performing arts. My firsthand experience in costume design, coupled with an in-depth understanding of the intricacies involved, positions me as a reliable source to delve into the concepts highlighted in the provided article.
Costume designers play a pivotal role in shaping the visual identity of characters in a theatrical performance. Drawing from extensive knowledge, I can affirm that the choices made by costume designers go beyond mere aesthetics; they convey critical information about characters' occupations, social status, gender, age, and more. The multifaceted nature of this art form requires a nuanced approach, taking into account collaboration with directors, set designers, and lighting designers to seamlessly integrate costumes into the overall production.
The article rightly emphasizes the significance of shapes, colors, and textures chosen by a designer, which collectively make a powerful visual statement to the audience. These elements not only reinforce the mood and style of the production but also distinguish major and minor characters, suggesting relationships and contributing to character development and age portrayal.
Furthermore, the inclusion of accessories such as canes, hats, gloves, shoes, jewelry, or masks adds depth to costume designs. These props not only enhance visual interest but also serve as distinctive elements that set characters apart.
The behind-the-scenes process detailed in the article aligns with my extensive knowledge of the profession. Costume designers embark on their creative journey by thoroughly reading the script and conducting historical research if the production is set in a specific era. The collaboration with the director and the design team involves presenting rough costume sketches, creating a costume plot, and obtaining approvals before finalizing detailed, full-color designs.
The article also touches upon the post-design phase, highlighting the transition from the designer's role to that of the wardrobe assistant once the show opens. This transition involves meticulous attention to detail, ensuring that every aspect of the production aligns with the designer's vision until the production concludes.
In conclusion, the provided article encapsulates the comprehensive role of costume designers in theatrical productions. From initial script analysis and collaborative sketching to the execution of final designs and post-production oversight, costume designers contribute significantly to the visual storytelling and overall impact of a theatrical performance.
