It's the turn of Wardrobe to take centre stage tonight. Although our Director set The Crucible in a Shetland/Scottish context the action still took place in the late 16th Century.
Martine Hall was the Director's historical researcher and Fiona Smith, our costume designer also spent time researching the costumes of the period.
Feet were a huge concern with the young girls undoubtedly being barefoot at the time and Babs Club provided a fabulous bottle of "MUD" which was used to spray feet and which was also daubed on the bottom of nightdresses and dresses.
Older characters wore Rivelins which were researched by Martine and made by her. They were amazingly comfortable!
The colours of woven fabric of the day were researched by Fiona and many were found in our extensive wardrobe. The mustard colour overcostume worn by Goody Putnum (Mandy Phillips) has seen many an outing in plays and pantos but worked well with a black undergarment and cap.
Linen style fabric with little in the way of seams and hems worked well (Francesca MacColl as Mercy Lewis).
Felted garments were also the order of the day (Stanley Manson as Giles Corey) also wearing a very dirty cap and with grubby hands courtesy of Babs bottle of mud!
The Puritan Black with white cape worn by elderly Rebecca Nurse (Jennie Atkinson) and the layered clothing worn by Frances Nurse (Lesley Leslie).
We also needed a huge selection of white nightdresses! These were worn for the Prologue but also under overgarments as well. (Donna-Marie Leask, Lois Phillips, Amber Thomson, Ishbel Mackenzie, Francesca MacColl and Molly Williams)
The caps played a very important role in the community with women's head's covered most of the time in close fitting caps (Molly Williams as Mary Warren). Whilst they had a practical purpose they were also a form of control.
The same caps were also worn by lower class men (Willum Martin as Marshall Herrick).
And speaking of hats...... ! The Reverend Hale's hat was actually bought in from America as we couldn't find the right kind of hat here in the UK. The importance of getting it right!
We are so thankful to have such a fabulous Wardrobe team:
Fiona Smith, Martine Hall and Audrey Spence
Thank you !
Photographs: Jennie Atkinson