Costume Portfolio

In this adaptation of Arthur Miller's The Crucible, the story is set in the province of Johannesburg and takes place in a catholic high school. The costumes feature a school uniform with customised badges and religious symbology on the bishop's cloak. The characters are modestly dressed, except for the troublesome girls. The process included the making of the bishop's cloak and multiple alterations.

In collaboration with the Rhodes Drama Department and the Journalism Department, the project aims to explore the first black-printed newspapers from the Eastern Cape, namely Izwi Labantu, Umshumayeli Wendaba & Imvo Zabantu. The aim was to capture the essence of the late 1890s in South Africa and to explore the clothing / costuming of black intellectuals such as AK Soga and JT Jabavu within South Africa’s colonial history.

RU Game? Explores the theme of the university experience, in collaboration with the director and design supervisor, the play encompasses’ out of the box thinking and engagement. The costumes were uniforms worn by students to symbolise their participation in the game or university system. However, throughout the play, the students strip away layers of this uniform to reveal their individuality through different fabrics, patterns, and colours. The design concept was in collaboration with A. Maponya.

Ityala Lamawele is a theatrical adaptation of the Xhosa Novel by Samuel Edward Krune Mqhayi, which recounts the battle between twins Banini and Wele as they clash over who is the rightful heir. The costume revolves around ceremonial symbology. The most prominent feature of this is ingubo (blankets) with various lines as a signifier of statues in the community.

Set in war stricken Congo, Mama Nadi runs a brothel were she takes in woman that have been affect by the civil war. The costumes include warm patterns on java and ankara print.

Yerma is a story about a barren woman who is adamant about having a child. She is a standout character in the barren and desert-like setting. Yerma wears a red striking dress with removable layers, each with different lengths and degrees of deterioration. The red contrasts with the set, the rest of the characters, including the hooded chorus members.

Serurubele, meaning "Butterfly Heart," is a one-hander performed by Lalu Mokuku that explores grief among children. The costume features pockets that hold rocks shared by two friends. The costume features a butterfly collar that has a playful flair. This was a cross-departmental production. Drawings and sketches by A. Maponya

Kss Kss is a site-specific work aimed at exploring the male gaze as it pertains to consent and sexual violence. The red burlesque attire consisted of various layers of fabric attached with Velcro that concealed and exposed the undergarment. The sound of the Velcro also contributed to the violence and the non-adherence toro also contributed to the violence and the in-adherence of consent.

Abafazi BaseLwandle examines the exploitation of seaweed pickers on the shores of the Eastern Cape by large-scale conglomerates. The conglomerates are symbolised by Umlungu Karen, who sits in the empire chair, overlooking the men and women who harvest seaweed. The vile nature of Umlungu Karen is underscored by seaweed crawling up her dress, which emphasises the greed and immorality of her business practices.