Write down this question into your Live Theatre Journals

Briefly explain the effects created by a non-naturalistic approach to costume design at particular moments. Analyse and evaluate how this contributed to the total dramatic effectiveness of the production by referring to two or three specific designs.

[25 marks]

Here is what you are expected to do: Read thoroughly.

In your opening paragraph of any Live Theatre questions you need to establish these things + engage briefly with the question set.

Name of company and play / playwright / genre

The media you saw it on/in

The Director and number of actors

The type of production and the space

The style of performance – Brechtian

The theme being focused on

The concept of the production (Bouffons) – why

Sample introduction (Mr Jones)

Introduction

We watched a digital performance of the Shakespearen tragedy ‘Macbeth’ performed by Splendid Productions, adapted and directed by Kerry Frampton. The production was designed for a schools’ tour with 3 actors, no lighting and minimal use of props and set. It had many Brechtian elements like multi-roling, use of song and placards and a knowing sense of theatricality. Frampton’s overall concept, taken from Macbeth’s line “It’s a tale told by an idiot…” was to tell the story using 3 Bouffons. These bouffons: “People who believe in NOTHING and make fun of EVERYTHING” – Jacques Lecoq   engaged with the audience in a very direct way.

5 lines

You need to engage briefly with the question (consider this an over view of what you will focus on in the Main Body of your essay.)

Introduction Cont…

As with the other non-naturalistic elements of this touring production, the costume designs were simple, inventive and allowed for swift changes of character. They were non-naturalistic in terms of colour scheme, shape and had symbolic elements to effectively help the audience understand themes like kingship and when actors were playing Shakespeare’s characters and when Bouffons.

The main body of your essay needs to be built up with a number of paragraphs that follow a Point, Evidence, Explain structure and follow the Question’s command words of Analyse and Evaluate.

Sample 1st paragraph (always useful to start with 1st impressions)

The first impression the audience have of a non-naturalistic approach to costume are of a chorus of grotesque Bouffons standing with placards stating, ‘Leaders wanted’. Bouffons traditionally were misshapen, deformed figures living on the edges of society and the costume’s shape acknowledges this with exaggerated shoulders pads, elbow patches and misshapen headwear. The costumes are as misshapen as they can be given that the actors are not exclusively ‘bouffons’ throughout the play. The headwear is created from various items of baby clothing. One Bouffon has a stuffed baby grow on his head (Insert diagram) This is a reference to the innocent children killed in wars and also a comment on the idea that the Macbeth’s are childless. Coupled with this, is the make-up design which has the actor’s faces in smudged white foundation with dark sunken dark eye sockets. This effectively makes the actors seem ghoulish and other worldly making them convincing as the Unknowns (as the Witches are known in this version). There is also comic and clown connotations with the white face and supports the director’s concept that this is a story ‘told by… idiot(s) ‘ who exist outside the Shakespearean world. Director Kerry Frampton indicates in her production notes that the Unknowns are meant to be ‘otherworldly’. They link heaven and earth. The all-white costumes indicate purity and the mud, blood spatters and rips (usually in the lower part of the costumes) is a result of the Bouffons walking the earth and being sullied and made dirty.

[This LINKS back to the Bouffon paragraph which already makes reference to deformity] The convention (rule) created in the first few scenes is that when the Bouffons remove their headwear they ‘take on the role’ of the various Shakespearean characters. As well as creating a silhouette that is misshapen and deformed, the addition of pads and wires under the costumes, especially the shoulder area, makes the Shakespearan characters seem powerful and masculine. Even Lady Macbeth has this feature to her costume. It bulks out her outline rather like an American football shirt. This enhances her power and is effective and appropriate as she is often more masculine than Macbeth – she is the one who suggests the murder of Duncan and strengthens Macbeth’s resolve when he is weakening. The Bouffons say “If she were born a man, would she be king already?’