Fifty Years of Costume | National Theatre

Summary

The National Theatre's 50-year history is marked by iconic productions where costumes and makeup play a pivotal role in creating character narratives and sustaining theatrical illusions. Over time, the approach to costume design has evolved, with a shift towards more collaborative processes involving actors and designers. The advent of NT Live has further challenged costume departments to create looks that read well under high-definition cameras. Despite changes in techniques and audience expectations, the core mission remains: to tell compelling stories through the art of costume design.

Takeaways

• 🎭 Costume and makeup are crucial in theatrical productions as they help sustain the illusion of the world the play is set in.
• 👗 The evolution of set design has led to costumes and props taking on a greater storytelling role, especially when sets are minimalistic.
• 🤹‍♂️ Costumes must facilitate the actor's transformation and assist in differentiating characters, especially in plays where actors portray multiple roles.
• 💇‍♀️ Wigs and makeup are used to quickly change a character's appearance within the constraints of a live performance.
• 👥 There is a shift towards more collaborative costume design processes, involving dialogues with actors and makeup artists.
• 🏺 Actors are sometimes involved in the design process, contributing ideas for their characters' appearances.
• 🌐 The character's background, such as cultural influences and personal history, is considered in the costume design to create a believable portrayal.
• 📽 The advent of NT Live has significantly impacted costume design, requiring costumes to be detailed enough to withstand close-ups by HD cameras.
• 🎨 There is a move towards more realistic costumes that blend into the background, allowing the actors' performances to take center stage.
• 👔 Modern fabrics like lycra have revolutionized costume design by allowing for greater freedom of movement and comfort for actors.
• 📏 Silhouettes remain a key element in costume design, conveying the period, social status, and character traits through the overall shape of the costume.

Q & A

Why is costume and makeup important in theatrical productions?

Costume and makeup are crucial as they help sustain the illusion of the world the play is set in, telling the story about the characters and their journeys through the show.

How have costumes and makeup evolved over the past 50 years?

Over the past 50 years, costumes and makeup have become more collaborative with designers, actors, and makeup artists, focusing on creating more realistic and character-driven looks.

What is the role of wigs in theatrical productions?

Wigs are used to help actors transform into different characters quickly, especially when playing multiple roles in a show, and to create a realistic look that blends with the actor's own hair.

How do costume designers work with actors to create a character's look?

Designers collaborate with actors, taking their input into account to create costumes that reflect the character's story. Actors may also contribute ideas for their character's appearance.

What challenges do costume designers face when creating costumes for different theatre spaces?

Designers face challenges in constructing and designing wigs and costumes for different theatre spaces, ensuring that the costumes are readable and effective for audiences both close up and far away.

How does NT Live affect the costume department?

NT Live, with its high-definition cameras, requires costumes to be detailed and camera-ready, as the audience sees close-ups that are closer than what they would see from the audience's perspective.

What is the current trend in costume design for theatrical productions?

There is a trend towards more realistic costumes that allow the actors to speak through their clothes, with many designers referring to them as 'clothes' rather than 'costumes'.

How has the use of lycra impacted costume design in theatre?

Lycra has revolutionized costume design by allowing for more comfortable and flexible costumes, which is essential for actors who need to move or dance on stage.

Why is the silhouette important in costume design?

Silhouettes are important because they instantly communicate the period of time and the social status of a character, providing a visual cue for the audience about the character's role and era.

How have audience expectations influenced costume design over the past 50 years?

Audience expectations have evolved, leading to changes in fashion and techniques in costume design. Designers now aim to create costumes that are more realistic and less of a caricature, responding to and sometimes leading these changes.

What is the fundamental essence of costume design that has remained constant over the years?

The fundamental essence of costume design that has remained constant is the ability to tell the story with the costume, ensuring that the audience understands the characters and their intentions.