Caucasian Chalk Circle: Costume design (including hair and make-up)

Costume Design

General principles: In line with Brecht’s theatre, the costumes in The Caucasian Chalk Circle are likely to be representational and indicative of character status, class, or occupation rather than realistic and period-specific. The costumes serve as visual reminders of the societal roles, thus reinforcing the play’s socio-political themes.
Key Symbols: Particular costume elements can hold symbolic value and are often emphasised through repeated use or attention. For example, the royal robes associated with the Governor and his wife stand for power, authority and corruption, while Grusha’s plain clothes, in contrast, signal her lower status but also moral integrity.
Costume Changes: Costume changes can visually signal character transformation or changing circumstances. Grusha’s transition from a servant to a mother figure caring for the child might involve a change in her attire, as could the Judge Azdak’s shift from a drunken scribe to a figure of justice.

Representational: Like costumes, hair and makeup are often used in a representative rather than realistic manner. For example, use of exaggerated or understated makeup could further delineate character types, and changes in makeup could reflect unfolding events or character arcs.
Narrative Function: Hair and makeup could also serve narrative functions. For example, the Governor’s wife’s elaborate hairstyle and makeup could visually underscore her vanity and self-centredness, breeding audience disdain and distancing.
Symbolic Value: Elements of hair and makeup often carry symbolic value. For instance, disarrayed hair and smeared makeup could symbolise chaos, downfall, or the brutal impact of war, while clean and precise appearances could signify order, authority, or even hypocrisy.

Audience’s Critical Distance: The non-naturalistic nature of costumes, hair, and makeup serves to maintain the audience’s critical distance, reminding them of the theatrical construction and disallowing total immersion.
Intersection with Other Elements: Costume, hair, and makeup should also be viewed in conjunction with other elements such as props, settings, and lighting. For instance, the contrast between the expensive royal attire and spartan settings or the interaction between a character’s appearance and a significant prop can produce additional layers of meaning.
Performability: Practical aspects should not be overlooked. Costumes, hair, and makeup should be designed with respect to requirements for quick changes, actor comfort, and clarity of visual effect for the audience.