Once the show opens, the designer's work is essentially complete. They show the style, silhouette, textures, accessories and unique features of each costume. The final designs are done in full color. When the director and production team have approved the costume designer's preliminary sketches, she or he can draw up the final costume designs. It can also identify any potential costume challenges, such as very quick changes between scenes. This helps track the specific costume needs of every character. 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. It is the costume designer's responsibility to draw up the costume plot. 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. 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. If the production is set in a specific historical era, the fashions of this period will need to be researched. They are often the items that truly distinguish one character from another.Ĭostume designers begin their work by reading the script to be produced.

These costume props add a great deal of visual interest to the overall costume design.

be objects of beauty in their own right.Ĭostume designs also need to include any accessories such as canes, hats, gloves, shoes, jewelry or masks.

suggest changes in character development and age.

suggest relationships between characters.

distinguish between major and minor characters.

reinforce the mood and style of the production.

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. 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. The shapes, colors and textures that a designer chooses make an immediate and powerful visual statement to the audience.

Depending on their style and complexity, costumes may be made, bought, revamped out of existing stock or rented. Costume designers create the look of each character by designing clothes and accessories the actors will wear in performance.

Theatre costume plot template