The Love of the Nightingale: Costume design (including hair and make-up)

“The Love of the Nightingale”: Costume Design, Hair and Make-up

Concept and Intentions of Costume Design

Costumes are an essential aspect of theatre that aid in communicating characterisation, time period, status, and personal traits.
In “The Love of the Nightingale”, costumes signify the transition of characters. Philomele’s costumes could progress from lighter, more innocent colours to darker tones after her assault, symbolising the loss of innocence and freedom.
Tereus’s costumes act as a symbol of his power and military prowess, possibly incorporating aspects of traditional Greek armour.
Procne’s costume evolution could mirror her emotional journey, illustrating her struggle between her loyalty as a wife and sister.

Elements of Costume

Colour plays a significant role in costume design. In this play, dark colours might symbolise violence and oppression, while bright colours could indicate hope, purity, and change.
Fabric choice can also contribute to a costume’s statement. Heavier, more robust materials might be used for Tereus’s attire, while lighter fabrics may be used for Philomele or Procne’s clothing.
Accessories such as jewellery or headgear might denote wealth, royalty, and social ranking among characters.

Hair and Makeup Design

Hair styles can implicitly convey social norms, status, and age. Characters like Tereus and Procne, as royals, might have elaborate hair styles.
Philomele’s hair can be used to show her transformation. Initially, her hair might be left loose, reflecting her youthful innocence. After her assault, she might have a drastic change, such as a shaved head or dishevelled hair, to imply her traumatic experience.
Make-up can contribute to characterisation and help express internal changes that a character undergoes.
Procne’s use of makeup might diminish throughout the play to reflect the melancholic transformation she undergoes upon discovering her sister’s gruesome fate.
Tereus’s makeup may get darker and grim as his iniquitous actions unfold.

Communicating Themes and Subtext through Costume, Hair and Makeup

Through the careful design of costumes, hair and makeup, themes of transformation, metamorphosis, power, oppression, and silence can be subtly communicated.
For instance, the carnage inflicted on Philomele can be visually represented by stained and torn dresses.
Similarly, vivid makeup might be used to depict the contrasting feelings of hope and despair among characters and to demonstrate the emotional metamorphosis that characters undergo.

It’s essential to comprehend that costumes, hair, and makeup are not just aesthetic elements but powerful dramatic tools that contribute to the overall narrative of “The Love of the Nightingale”.