10-Sep / 0 COMMENTS

I once wrote on my short bio that I attempt a mini theater experience in each of my performances. I think that statement still rings true and that’s why I kept it on my bio after all this time. A big source of happiness in the attempt to create this immersive theater experience were the costumes I chose. They had the power to tell the story of the character visually and immediately, in a way that the sound might not, or might not for all people. Since the end of 2015 I was able to go deeper- in not just sewing a stage dress for myself, but sewing a garment that would illustrate a character that I will perform.

There are many anecdotes and side quests to that first garment, and the garments that I attempted making or purchased after it. These stories are important to me, and so this is an attempt to put some of them down and share them, and maybe in the way to cherish them.

One way to go about it could be writing these anecdotes at random as they come to me. Let a memory that comes along take the center stage for a moment. That would be probably the easiest way to do it. To be honest this method doesn’t excite me at all right now. What does excite me is creating a log book- or a sort of design book (after the fact) for my historical costume capsule. Think of it like an interview with the designer, maker, and costume department at the smallest theater you could ever find. So I guess this entry is about making sense in the chaos sort of entry. This is where I explain how I hope to write about the different items in this capsule. What are the rules of this game, my method I hope to follow kind of chapter, if you will. And so here are the rules I would like to follow. But, as I know my self, I will probably use them as a starting point to my writing and thinking:

• Picture of garments- with a description of what it is
• Picture of scrap of fabric – with a description of what it is
• Where I got the fabric from? – How much fabric did I buy – along with story of how it was purchased
• Did I get the fabric with a specific garment to make in mind, or was this a random purchase? – story behind what I wanted to make, or thought I would make.
• What garment did I actually end up making?
• What pattern did I use? – story behind the pattern and why I chose it.
• Did I succeed in making the garment? To what degree?
• What would I, or could I do differently today in regards to making this garment?
• Have I performed in it? On what occasion/s? What were the rolls?
• Why did I choose the costume for that roll (for the first or other performances)?
• Was there a special moment during those performances that I can remember that had to do with this garment?
• What is the roll of this garment in my capsule? In what combinations with other clothing do I usually wear this garment, and to create what type of roll?
• Do I have a takeaway for the future regarding this garment?
• Do I love this costume (in general- or in wearing it)/ Am I intimidated by this costume/ am I avoiding this costume? Why do I feel this way?

Now that all of this is down, I can only hope to put this list to good use. No pressure, of course there isn’t – why would you write about pressure?

Historical Acting Historical costuming Michal Bitan