Costumes, Props & Make-up

Help students build the look of the story.

Costumes, props, and make-up reveal character, setting, time, style, and mood before a word is spoken. Use these resources to support creative choices, practical planning, and thoughtful design on a school theatre budget.

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Technical Theatre Costumes, Props & Make-up

Basic Costume Items Every Drama Student Should Own

Getting to try on a new costume for the first time is one of every student’s favourite parts of the rehearsal process. A costume helps so much to tell the story of the show, and helps students...

Acting Technique Character Development

Why You Need to Rehearse in Your Character’s Shoes

There are so many approaches to developing a character and making them fascinating and engaging. Some methods are more analytical, some are emotional, and some are physical. In this case, think of...

Acting Technique Character Development

Using One Item to Show Character

Sometimes we get caught up in all the bells and whistles of a theatrical production. Sumptuous sets, elaborate costumes, piles of props, mountains of furniture – they’re all wonderful, but shows...

Technical Theatre Costumes, Props & Make-up

How Costumes Affect Your Character

Costumes are such a fabulous part of theatre – they help tell the story, they help actors get into character, and they immediately tell the audience something about what’s going on. For many...

Technical Theatre Costumes, Props & Make-up

5 Props Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Props can add so much to a production, but they can also be challenging to work with. Here are five common props challenges, rapid-fire style, with suggestions about how to deal with them! 1....

Technical Theatre Costumes, Props & Make-up

Working With Stage Blood

From Shakespearean tragedies to zombie thrillers, stage blood can be an exciting addition to a show–it adds a sinister realism to dramatic moments, and really makes the audience gasp with surprise...

Technical Theatre Costumes, Props & Make-up

Measuring Up: Costume Measurements

Many modern teen plays can be easily costumed from the closets of the cast or (even more simply than that) jeans and show t-shirts. But if you’re moving into the realm of period pieces, musicals...

Technical Theatre Costumes, Props & Make-up

How to Make a Basic Hair & Makeup Kit for Student Actors

When it comes time to perform and students have their amazing new costumes on, they will need some extra tools to finish their “look” – and that means hairstyles and makeup! The right hairstyle and...

Directing, Rehearsal, & Production Budgeting

Props on a Budget: a Resource Guide

Teachers often have the task of producing a school show with grand ideas but with little to no budget. Before you start organizing a fundraiser, digging into your own pockets (because who wants to...

Technical Theatre Costumes, Props & Make-up

Create a Costume Vision Board

A vision board is a visual representative of the look of the show. Directors can use a vision board to illustrate their concept of the show to their design team. It can also be used to illustrate...

Podcast

Theatrefolk Podcast: Costuming with a Vision

Episode 125: Costuming with a Vision Does the thought of costuming a show fill you with dread? Are you always resorting to colourful t-shirts and jeans because that’s all you have time for? Holly...

Technical Theatre Costumes, Props & Make-up

A Simple Mask Effect – Photo and Video

One of the stories covered in Shuddersome: Tales of Poe is The Masque of the Red Death. In this story, guests at a masked ball are overcome by the dread “Red Death”, a disease that is spreading...