In the illustrations of William Blake the figures show their bodyshapes very well, which I tried to work into my design.
As the actors didn't have this perfect slim bodies (who does have one at all...) like Blakes figurines, I tried to cover the body with the costume while during movements the gown could float around the bodyshape in a dramatic way.
The costumes are made from beautiful cotton lycra fabric which is a very floating and soft fabric.
here you can gain an impression how the costumes work in action:
The play had very good reviews - I got a mention for the costumes as well!
The set was almost ethereal, accentuating the mythical quality of the work, and this was intensified by the beautiful colours and tones of the lighting and costumes. The use of Blake’s engravings of the biblical Book of Job in the set, which were mirrored in a series of tableaux by the actors, was visually stunning, were a reminder of Blake’s extraordinary and enduring contribution to religious fine art. The clever use of a two-part stage helped to subtly highlight parallels between the myth of Jerusalem, the story of Job and the course of Blake’s own life.
Stagedesign as well as costumedesign for the play "Her and Zero" written by Steve Jones.
A play performed at the Theater in der Drachengasse in the city of Vienna.
Trailer:
Review in the "Wiener Zeitung":
Eric wakes up one day to discover that Hero, (his Ego and rational 'left-brain') along with Zero (his emotional 'right-brain') are not where they are supposed to be, in his head, but are manifested as two distinct personalities, and they're sitting on his bed! All the crazy thoughts within Eric's brain are now played out by Hero and Zero - right in front of him! Eric becomes their puppet and they do everything in their power to distract, confuse and manipulate him. This comedic play follows Eric through a day-in-the-life as he struggles to overcome their subtle games in order to connect to the only real thing in his life - his true self.
“Hero und Zero”, eine glänzend gebaute Komödie des britischen Autors Steve Jones, ist jetzt im Theater Drachengasse im Raum Bar & Co. zu sehen, in einer minutiösen, einfallsreichen Inszenierung von Elfriede Schüsseleder. Da stimmt bei den Mimen jede Geste. Das brillante Darstellerquartett (unter anderem mit Eva Maria Neubauer) gibt sich ausgeflippt bis nachdenklich, die Gesangs- und Tanznummern sind perfekt.
Schräge Unterhaltung vom Feinsten.
Hero und Zero
Von Steve Jones
Elfriede Schüsseleder (Regie)
Stage set: Marianne Schulz
Mit: Werner Landsgesell, Vanessa Payer-Kumar, Eva Maria Neubauer, Christina Trefny
Theater Drachengasse/Bar & Co.
As an artist and designer I was appealing to an International Theatre company and was asked to design dancing costumes after the illustrations of William Blake, an English painter of the 18th century.
The 2nd production was for a small renowned Theatre in the center of Vienna, the "Theater Drachengasse", followed by a film about nature, music, atmosphere
