Woza Albert!: Costume design (including hair and make-up)

Costume Design in ‘Woza Albert!’

The costume design in ‘Woza Albert!’ is noted for its simplicity and minimalism, reflecting the play’s themes of oppression and poverty.
The two protagonists, Mbongeni and Percy, are depicted in basic clothing items, often of subdued colours that don’t draw specific attention.
This simplicity aids the actors’ quick character transitions, allowing them to switch roles without elaborate costume changes.

Props are often incorporated into the costume to help indicate character changes.
An emphasis is placed on the functionality of these items, to exist simultaneously as props and costume pieces.
For instance, a hat might be worn by one character, then used as a prop by another, demonstrating the versatility of the props/costume.

Just like the costumes, the hair and make-up in ‘Woza Albert!’ is utilised to create a broad array of characters.
The actors often play both male and female roles, and subtle changes in their appearance, such as altering hair positioning or applying minimal make-up, help signify these switches.
The use of hair and make-up further adds to the physical transformations required by the actors, adding to the overall expressiveness of the performance.

Costume, hair and make-up also serve as symbolism in ‘Woza Albert!’, helping to communicate the socio-political commentary of the piece.
For instance, costumes indicative of authority (like police uniforms) may be used to represent the oppressive apartheid regime.
Such costume choices must not only be functionally versatile for the actors, but also hold significant meaning within the context of the play.