AQA GCSE Drama Student Book: Revised Edition

SET PLAY 3: Things I Know to be True by Andrew Bovell 3 TASK 3 Use the play’s context and the prompts below to design a costume for one male character and one female character. Consider the character’s age, personality and occupation, as well as suitable colours and fabrics. Costume, hair and make-up design inspired by context The contemporary Australian context will in uence the style of costumes. The costumes need to suit the characters’ ages, occupations and personalities. The older Prices’ costumes may suggest their working-class background, more than their children, who have different life experiences. Pip is a working mother with a responsible job in an education department, so she might dress with a certain practical formality. Rosie is a teenager who has been travelling, so her clothes could be colourful and informal. There are also opportunities for the characters to change costumes, such as the anniversary evening out, the funeral and, signi cantly, Mark’s transition to Mia. The condition of their clothes might also give hints about a character’s mental state and priorities, such as when Ben returns home distressed. Hair: Men: Long or short? Bald? Colour? Women: Up or down? Colour? Straight, curled or braided? Headbands? Scarves? Make-up: Pale or dark? Ageing? Lines? Youthful? Men: Beard, moustache? Accessories: Men: Ties? Watch? A suitcase? Women: Jewellery? Handbag? Travel bag? A lanyard? Costume: Men: Trousers: Fabric? Colour? Fit? Shorts? Shirt: T-shirt? Business shirt? Colour? Waistcoat? Jacket? Blazer? Suit? Pyjamas? Colours: Bright or dark? Fabrics: Linen, cotton, silk, knitted? Women: Dress? Suit? Trousers? Blouse? A uniform? High or low neckline? Bath robe? Fabrics: Plain or patterned? Cotton, linen, knitted, silk? Condition: Wrinkled or pressed? Faded or new? Clean or soiled? Outerwear: Coat? Jacket? Cardigan? Footwear: Men: Leather shoes? Boots? Trainers? Slip-ons? Sandals? Barefoot? Women: High or low heel? Boots? Slippers? Sandals? Barefoot? TIP When writing about your costume choices, it is important that you show your understanding of the character and the context. For example, you can re ect how the Australian climate and the characters’ activities affect their choice of clothing. TIP Carefully read the stage directions. They might suggest or specify particular costumes, make-up, hair or accessories. In ‘Spring’, for example, Fran wears ‘a lovely dress… and her hair is down’. In ‘And It Ends Like This’, Bob is in ‘his pyjamas and bare feet’. Download a printable version from Samples & Downloads at www.illuminatepublishing.com . 77 SECTION B STUDY OF A SET PLAY