The Merchant of Venice – Venetian costumes, or what about a 1lb of flesh (take a 1lb of lard in a carrier bag!)
Othello – Venetian costumes
A Midsummer’s Night Dream – Fairy and Mythical costumes
Romeo & Juliet – Medieval / Tudor Costumes. Also why not wear 50′s costumes for the more modern version of West Side Story?
Executioner – Measure For Measure
Romans – Titus Adronicus, Julius Caesar, Antony & Cleopatra
Knight Costumes – Twelfth Night
Henry VIII and his wives – Henry VIII – Tudor Costumes
Joan of Arc – Henry VI, part 1
Fool (Jester) appears in various plays
Titus Abdronicus – Roman costumes, Queen of The Goths (wear gothic costume with a crown
Twelfth Night – for an ‘out of the box’ costume idea, why not wear black with moons and the no. 12 on it?
April 23rd and it is St George’s Day, Patron Saint of England. The coming few months should see his services (and costume) much in demand, as we enter the twin sporting cauldrons of the Euro 2012 Football and the Olympics (okay, in the latter case, it’s team GB, and the red George Cross element does seem to be missing from the flag motif on the official GB kit, but hopefully that is not a bad omen). Meanwhile today is also said to be the anniversary of the birth and death of William Shakespeare, although in fact no-one is exactly sure of his true birth date, due to lack of church records. Similarly whereas it seems a nice coincidence that he apparently died on St George’s Day, the change from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar in the eighteenth century, where this country ‘jumped’ eleven days to put its dates in synch with the Continent, rather undermines that idea.
Today we thought we’d propose a Shakespearian costume theme as it was on this day in the year 1034 that the events upon which inspired Shakespeare’s Scottish Play ,Macbeth, occurred: Malcolm II of Scotland died and instead of the throne passing to Macbeth, the son of his eldest daughter Donada, Duncan, the son of his second daughter Bethoc was named as his successor. By all accounts, Shakespeare’s story does not let the facts get in the way of a good tragic drama because the real Macbeth was apparently nothing like the over-ambitious military leader depicted, but the Bard developed some interesting concepts such as the Three Witches, a good vengeful ghost and a mobile forest, plus a Thane or two (and we all know from South Pacific that ‘there is nothing like a thane’).
Of course there has recently been discussion as to whether Shakespeare actually wrote his plays: Many people seem unable to believe that someone from Stratford on Avon could have such knowledge of Italy, in which the Bard based several of his plays, and, as here, obscure events of Scottish history. Certainly many people and organisations in Stratford have taken it a bit hard that someone is doubting their local lad (nothing to do with the financial implications, of course), but we will do our bit by promoting a ‘Shakespearean Characters Day’ –six months from April 23rd, Shakespeare’s Birth (and death) day.
Shakespeare (if indeed it was he!) certainly has given us a vast choice of costumes to choose from, here are just some of our fancy dress ideas…
We were a bit spoilt for choice for a fancy dress theme today.
A few days ago we mentioned Beltane on May 1st, a time where maypole and Morris dancers can be seen welcoming the Merry Month of May. Prior to that of course we have a number of other events where people can get together. Those of the Christian faith will be observing Easter next week, whilst here at Props n Frocks we will be dealing with the traditional costume requests for chicks, rabbits, and Mad Hatter’s Tea Parties. On Sunday 23rd it will be St George’s Day, where aside from costumes for knights, dragons and damsels, red and white accessories, bunting and flags will be required. This is also Shakespeare’s birthday, so opportunities to don Tudor/Elizabethan garb are also available. Then of course, there is a certain royal wedding.
So, we decided to have a Tudor fancy dress theme today as we thought you may all be Easter chicked and Royal Weddinged out!
William Shakespeare has to go down as one of Great Britain’s greatest. With a wide range of plays to choose your costume from, Props n Frocks will be able to provide you with a fantastic costume.
Here is a small selection of Shakespeare’s works with some possible costumes that you may want to wear…
