Earthquakes in London: Costume design (including hair and make-up)

Interpreting Costume Design

In Earthquakes in London, costume design serves as a fundamental element in establishing character identity and era, reflecting the play’s time-hopping narrative.
Costumes provide important visual clues about the status, role and personality of each character, signalling their lifestyle and socio-economic status.
The play’s fragmented narrative structure necessitates costumes that vary dramatically, representing different time periods, socio-political climates, and states of the Earth.

The subtle changes in costume design reflect the dynamic shifts in the plot, serving as an essential vehicle for expressing transformation or character development.
Elements of costume like texture, colour, and fabric, contribute immensely in reflecting the mood and atmosphere of different scenes.
The use of modern and period costumes helps accentuate the elements of fantasy and reality in the narrative.

Hair and makeup are crucial in transforming actors into their characters physically and emotionally, enhancing the audience’s suspension of disbelief.
The design choices regarding hair and makeup can significantly influence the character’s age, personality, and emotional state.
Special effects makeup may be utilised to depict disasters or the aftermath of an earthquake, visually portraying the horrifying realities of the situation.

The costume designer plays a critical role in translating the playwright’s vision and the director’s interpretation visually.
They must effectively communicate with the director and actors, facilitating consistency between costume design and performance.
As with any creative role, the costume designer must account for practicality and comfort alongside aesthetic and thematic considerations.

For the actors, understanding the significance of their costume can aid in developing their performance and characterisation.
Costume design can influence an actor’s physicality, as the attire might require them to move or behave in a certain way.
The visual contrast or similarity in costumes between characters can be used to indicate relationships or tensions.