Question 1: Explain how costume choices can influence a character’s personality on stage.

Answer: Costume choices can reflect a character’s traits, social status, or emotional state, helping the audience understand and connect with the character more easily.

Question 2: Describe three factors a costume designer should consider when selecting costumes for a play set in the Victorian era.

Answer: Factors include historical accuracy, fabric and material authentic to the period, and the practicality for actors to move and perform comfortably within the costumes.

Question 3: Identify two ways in which costume can be used to help differentiate between characters of different social classes within a scene.

Answer: Costumes for higher social classes might be more elaborate and luxurious, while costumes for lower classes may be simpler and more utilitarian. The use of accessories and fabric quality can also distinguish social status.

Question 4: Discuss how costume can enhance the visual storytelling of a production without any dialogue.

Answer: Costume can convey a character’s background, mood, or relationships, helping the audience interpret the story visually. For example, dark, tattered clothing might suggest a character's hardships, while bright, neat costumes indicate happiness or wealth.

Question 5: Sketch a costume design for a villain in a fantasy play. Include notes on fabric, color, and accessories.

Answer: A correct sketch would depict a dark-colored costume, perhaps with sharp, angular shapes, made from heavy fabric like leather or velvet. Accessories might include a cape or dramatic collar, with details suggesting menace or power.

Question 6: Draw a costume suitable for a young, energetic protagonist in a contemporary setting. Include labels for key features.

Answer: A sketch should show casual, comfortable clothing such as jeans and a t-shirt, with sneakers. Labels might indicate bright colors, flexible fabrics, and practical accessories like a backpack.

Question 7: Describe how costume changes can be used effectively during a performance to show character development.

Answer: Costume changes can signify a transition in a character’s journey, such as dressing more confidently or casually, indicating change in status, mood, or realization. Quick changes can also add drama or surprise.

Question 8: Explain the importance of costume continuity in a staged performance.

Answer: Costume continuity ensures that costumes remain consistent throughout the performance, helping the audience follow the story and recognize characters, maintaining the believability of the production.

Question 9: Identify three practical considerations a costume designer must keep in mind when creating costumes for a touring production.

Answer: Considerations include ease of packing and transportation, quick change facilities, durability of fabrics for repeated use, and comfort for actors during long performances.

Question 10: Reflect on a play you have studied. How did the costumes contribute to the overall staging and storytelling?

Answer: The costumes helped establish the setting and period, highlighted character traits, and supported the mood of scenes, making the story more engaging and understandable for the audience.