George's Grandma: Design 2

These changes were made for practical reasons. The high neck was created because Kento will be wearing Mr Kranky's outfit underneath, and it has a collar, so Grandma's outfit has to cover it up. The boots are the same as Mr Kranky's  because there will not be time to change shoes. (It was impossible to get all of the notes, but atleast the outfit is visible)

George's Grandma: Design 1

Mr Kranky: Design 2

I made these changes in the design because I felt that the first design went a little too far in the "farmer" style, and would not suit George's and Grandma's outfits. Besides, I think that less coulors on the top is better. (Not all of the notes are visible, sorry)

Mr Kranky: Design 1

George: Design 2

I made these changes to George's outfit because it was decided that George would be a teenage boy, and the other outfit was for a little boy.

George: Design 1

Thursday, 28th of April

Today I worked on second sketches, revising them according to what Helen said when I showed her the designs. The biggest difference is that we are now portraying George as a teenager instead of as a little boy. I was thinking that it would be good to exaggerate the fact that George is a teenager in the way he dress, and make him dress in an extremely stereotypical way. I also worked on perfecting Mr Kranky’s outfit, which must fit underneath a dress (seeing as Kento will by playing both Grandma and Mr Kranky). Also Grandma’s outfit will need to be easy to pull on and off. I’m thinking that maybe I’ll make two parted a shirt and a dress, and arrange it so that it looks like it goes together. Also I’ll fashion in a Velcro or zipper attachment so that it can be easily pulled on and off.
I also devised a plan for how the work is going to get done:
1st week of May: finalize designs, figure out where to get things, get appropriate measurements
Either on the weekend of the 7th and 8th of May or the weekend of the 14th and 15th: Go buy necessary materials (for making the clothes that I’ll be making) and items and start to make the costumes
Weeks before the week before performance: make costumes and assemble the outfits
Week before performance: have costumes ready and tried on by actors and make necessary adjustments

Tuesday, 26th of April

Today, listening to the rehearsals, I got an idea of where the play is heading, and especially how the characters will be portrayed. First of all however, I think that Mr Sarstedt’s suggestion that we add a layer of comedy in with emphasizing that the actors are not exactly ideal for their roles, is a good. Otherwise it will look a bit weird. It also fits in with how I’m planning on dressing the characters. I’m imagining the Grandma in a long, sort of old fashioned dress, which can be made slightly dirty to give it a sort of witch like look. If it is a simple colour it will also work great with the way Helen thought of to make Grandma grow. The idea, as I understand, is to make Grandma a bit witch like. Also, since Kento is playing Grandma, he will need a wig. I was thinking of getting a wig that is deliberately a tiny bit too small, or somehow makes it obvious that he’s wearing a wig. For George, I was thinking of a little boy look, with shorts and a woollen top with a high collar, which can be pulled over the chin. Since Kento is playing Mr Kranky as well, he will need to have clothes that can easily be changed into or kept underneath the other set of clothes. I was thinking of a farmer style, with faded jeans and a flannel top that can be hidden underneath eh Grandma’s dress. Then also a straw hat perhaps.
Some of this can be found in our wardrobes, but things like the dress for Grandma I’ll probably make.

Research: The role of the Costume Designer

What to do and tips:

1. Read the play and jot down

• Information on the time of the play 
• Specific clothing needs of a character
• Any clothing guidelines given in the play 

*make notes for each character
2. Draw sketches of every costume

• Think of an overall theme
• Ensure that a design suits the set the set and the other designs
• Historical plays will need research into the dressing style of the time

3.    Decide on the fabric for each item of clothing

• Try to find pictures of shoes and hats that will be needed

4.    Check the result

•  Remove colours that don’t go well together

•  Make sure that the costumes are not totally the same (tough try to keep a character in the same colour world)

5.    Have actors check their outfits

•  Take into consideration points (if made) by actors on need of mobility for their character ect.

Fair, Kay. "How to Design Theatre Costumes." EHow. Demand Media Inc. Web. 07 Apr. 2011.
<http://www.ehow.com/how_4524273_design-theatre-costumes.html>.