Textiles and Theatre Arts

Textiles and theatre Arts

LIGHTING

Theatrical lighting has special qualities which impact on fabric texture and colour as well as theatre make up. The intensity, quality and colours of artificial light and the methods used to focus cause changes-

·  Intense light drains natural colour

·  colours of fabrics change depending on the colour of the light focused on it

·  Shadows occur as intense light is directed onto the actor and clothing from different angles and from different types of light sources.

·  Visual Textures of fabrics- Three broad visual textures

-  Dull- no reflective quality

-  Shiny- smooth surface, reflects a great deal of light

-  Glittering- sparkles

COLOURS

The primary colours of light are red blue green (not red, blue and yellow as in pigment)

The secondary colours of light are yellow,

Colours create a feeling or mood or identify a character.

Happiness- ______

Sadness- ______

Royalty- ______

Youth- ______

Aged- ______

Jealousy- ______

Cold or warmth - ______

FABRICS

Fabrics for costumes should be

·  inexpensive

·  durable and adaptable

·  have proper draping qualities

·  has the desired visual texture

Natural fibred fabrics dye easily

Recycled fabrics and second hand clothes are a cheap method of obtaining costumes

Textures of fabrics can add to the development of the character- e.g.

Royalty- ______

Poor- ______

Historical costume- ______

COSTUME CONSTRUCTION

Design of the Costume

a.  withstand quick costume changes between scenes

b.  able to be adapted for different actors/stand in

c.  able to be adapted and reused for another character in another show

Traditional sewing techniques are less important but

a.  neaten raw edges if they are going to fray

b.  zigzag knit fabric seams to allow for give

c.  Machine hems

d.  Selvedge’s provide an edge that needs no finishing

e.  Invisible stitch is used as it does not show.

f.  Some layered clothes are actually all in one outfits

g.  Beads and sequins can be glued in place for short term shows

h.  Fabrics can be dyed or painted to create colour and texture.

i.  Use braid for decorations and instead of hemming

j.  Buttons should be used only as a decorative feature. They are not functional.

Suggest methods of fastening and why it would be useful

______

Suggest ways of aging a costume.

______