Costumes change how we imagine a role — Drama, 4–6 years
A costume gives clues about who a character might be. It does not need to be fancy or exact: one useful piece can start the idea.
A costume gives clues
A costume is something worn to help us imagine a character, such as a crown for a queen or an apron for a cook. It does not magically make someone that character; it gives the audience a clue and helps the performer think in role.
Why use a costume?
The problem is that the audience cannot read the performer’s whole idea at once. A visible clue makes the role easier to recognise, especially when there are few words or little time. Long ago, theatre often used special clothes because a large audience needed to see the difference between people from far away.
One scarf, three clues
First, choose a blue scarf. Next, decide that it is part of a sailor’s costume, so hold it like a sailor’s neckerchief. Then greet the audience, point towards the sea and walk as if the wind is strong. The scarf is small, but the colour, choice and actions work together.
The costume is not the whole character
A child may think that putting on a hat is enough to make the audience understand everything. That is reasonable: clothes give strong clues in everyday life. But the performer still needs actions, words or a clear way of standing, because the same hat can belong to many different characters.
Costumes outside drama
Costumes appear at celebrations, parades and story events, where people want others to recognise an idea quickly. A uniform can also show a job or group, such as a firefighter’s protective clothing. In both cases, clothes give information, but they do not tell us everything about the person wearing them.
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