Costume, masks and make-up

Student in costume and make-up

Costume can be modern clothes, period costume or a fantasy outfit. You may want to wear full costume, or perhaps just wear black, with indications of character as an extra feature. For example, a hat, shawl or jacket could signify character.

Sometimes, in stylised drama, the items of costume are exaggerated - so a jacket could be in very bright colours.

Masks may be single colour, painted, full-face or half-face. They are usually used in stylised work to indicate non-human characters - for example in a Greek chorus, in 'Animal Farm', or in a play with demons.

Make-up functions in different ways. Sometimes it's used to 'age' an actor, or it may indicate a fantasy character such as a fairy in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. At other times it can alter the gender of a character, or communicate a different style of theatre, eg Kabuki [kabuki: A style of theatre, popular in Japan, often featuring elaborate costumes, music and dancing ].

Use the dressing room activity to design and print costumes for your character.

Remember to check out the costume gallery and the hats, wigs, masks and make-up gallery.

Sound and music

Sound and music obviously play a crucial part in musicals, but they can also be used in other productions to:

• add atmosphere
• emphasize action happening on stage
• help set the scene
• indicate a change of time or location
• focus attention on to a character

Play the activity by clicking on the link opposite.

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Lighting

As well as helping the actors to be seen, lighting can also indicate the time of day, or a place, and can focus audience attention on a character.

Different lighting effects

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  Spot - has a hard-edged effect, used to light characters or elements on the stage. Coloured filters can be used with this lamp.

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  Fresnel - used for a softer edged effect, with a diffusing lens in front of the lamp. It's useful for good overall light, when used with others. Coloured filters can be used with this lamp.

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  Flood - produces a clear wide-angled light, but there is little control over the spread of the light. Coloured filters can be used with this lamp.

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  Strobe - a flashing light, used for special effects. Often used to give the effect of old movies. Produces a jerky effect on the movements of actors when used on its own.

Space and levels

The acting area is generally called a stage, and might be a proper stage or just an area of a hall or small room. How this area is used will affect how your drama will look.

Levels give a stage more visual interest, and the various levels can be useful, as they allow different characters the opportunity to communicate different status, for example. The various levels might represent different locations, or may just allow the audience to see particular bits of the action more clearly.

Set and props

You may use very simple or very detailed sets and props.

Stage sets help create the background to a drama, but it's usually best to keep them simple. Shakespeare's stage used little in the way of set, and the modern trend is also to keep things low-key.

Props are the items that are held or used by an actor in a scene to make it more realistic. These are also best kept to the minimum. A briefcase might be enough to portray a businessman, without using a phone as well, or a hat might signify one character when it's on and a different character when it's off.

Movement, mime and gesture

1. Movement

Movement covers:

• where we move to on and around the stage - upstage, downstage, avoiding masking another actor, etc
• how we move to help with characterisation [characterisation: To portray a role using voice and physical skills ] - slowly, painfully, lightly, etc
• how we move in relation to other characters - threateningly, fearfully, in a friendly manner, etc

Watch the video example by clicking on the link above.

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2. Mime

Mime covers:

• working in silence, or with few sounds or words, to show activities - eg painting a wall, opening a door

• working with dialogue, but miming any props or set - eg looking in a mirror, perhaps facing the audience, to put on make-up while speaking to another character
• physical theatre, which also uses mime techniques, and where actors can also mime items of set or props

Watch the video example by clicking on the link below.

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3. Gesture

Gesture covers the use of our arms (and sometimes legs) to communicate ideas to the audience.

Examples of gesture in melodrama include:

• holding the back of the hand to the forehead to indicate that you are upset
• when the heroine pleads for her life by clasping her hands up towards the villain
• when Lady Bracknell holds out her hand to be kissed

Voice

When using your voice during your drama, think about:

• Tone - does your voice sounds appropriate - perhaps harsh or soft, angry or happy? Is it suitable for the character you're playing?
• Volume - have you got the loudness or quietness of your speech right? Can everyone in the audience hear you?
• Pitch - does your character speak with a high or low pitched voice? If you were playing a hanging judge, would a squeaky voice sound right?
• Pace - how quickly do you say your lines? Too fast, and the audience won't keep up, too slow and they might get bored. Can you alter the pace according to what's happening in the drama? (Ask friends for feedback!)
• Clarity - have you practiced speaking very, very clearly? It's crucial!

Play the activity by clicking on the link.

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Spoken language

There's a vast range of spoken language you can use in a drama. The words you choose need to be just right for the character, the setting and the situation. Here are some pointers to help you.

• Language registers - remember to change the way you speak to different people. We wouldn't say "Hello, darlin', you all right?" to a judge in real life, so if you're playing a judge in a drama, keep the register formal, and don't ask your witness "Right, mate, what happened next then?" Our language register should match the role that we play.
• Verse - use this in stylised drama, or in genres such as pantomime.
• Shakespearean language - apart from the obvious, this can be useful if you want to reflect Shakespearean times, or to evoke Shakespeare's plays.
• Slang - use this if you want to reflect down-to-earth daily life. We might have local words for various objects, for example. However, remember not to use slang in the wrong setting. Using 'OK' instead of 'Yes' in a Victorian drama, for example, would sound very strange!

Watch the video example by clicking on the link.

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