House of Bernarda Alba: Costume design (including hair and make-up)

Costume Design for ‘The House of Bernarda Alba’

Themes and Symbolism

Distinctive colours: Using particular colours for individual characters can symbolise their personality or emotional state. For instance, Bernarda might wear dark and oppressive colours highlighting her authoritative role, whereas Adela may wear green, symbolising her rebellious nature.
Mourning clothes: Throughout the play, women wear black to symbolise mourning, which also visually expresses the oppressive atmosphere and their constrained lives. However, variations in style and adornments can help distinguish individual characters and their status.

Period and Class

The costumes should reflect Spanish rural society in the 1930s, hence a relatively conservative and traditional style would be appropriate.
Discrepancies in costume quality between characters can hint at their socio-economic status. For instance, Bernarda’s clothing may be of high quality, showing her wealth and power, while the servants’ attire might be plain and worn out.

Character Development

Changes in costume throughout the play can represent character development. For instance, Adela might start with subdued costume but transition to more vibrant attire as her rebellion mounts up.
Attention to detail in costume can exhibit mental and emotional states: a perfectly buttoned up dress could symbolise repression, while a half-loose ribbon in the hair might signify desperation or longing.

Hair and Make-up for ‘The House of Bernarda Alba’

Aging and Health

Through makeup, it’s possible to represent the age and health of characters. Bernarda, for instance, could be made to look older and stern, while Adela, being the youngest, might have a fresh and healthy complexion.

Emotional State

Changes in make-up could represent fluctuations in a character’s emotional state. For example, abundant rouge may be employed to display embarrassment, while paleness might signify fear or anxiety.

Hair Styles

Traditional and conservative hair styles would be typical for this period and setting, such as tightly tied buns. Any variation or loose element might represent divergence from the norms, like Adela’s rebellious nature.

Remember, in costume and make-up design, every choice conveys meaning and should be fully justified in relation to the script, character, and overarching themes.