\u3cem\u3eVinegar Tom\u3c/em\u3e Costume Designs: Examining Mass Murder and Oppression Through Fabric and Form

A single read through of Vinegar Tom by Caryl Churchill might impress with brevity a story of tragedy. Two women, Ellen and Joan, are hung for their statuses as witches; however, their arcs are meant as more than a means of storytelling. They represent injustice against those persecuted during the English witch hunts of the 16th and 17thcenturies. As a member of the all female student design team of Production Studies III, I was interested in conveying the struggle and circumstances of these characters through their attire. My research examined the ways I could physically represent the restrictions of women- how a character like Betty could appear otherworldly in pastel colors reserved for richer classes, while also shaping her bodice and skirt in accordance to the feminine style expected of a young woman forced into marriage. The dissection of the socioeconomic and political advantages of exploiting women and corresponding fashion trends furthered my designs, as I looked at ways the female body was controlled in juxtaposition to male counterparts. This analysis was also incorporated in the contemporary costume designs for the musical interludes, as I sought primarily gender neutral and minimalist clothing alternatives for a 21st century understanding of Vinegar Tom