For the entire month of February 2023, I was a costume maker in the production of "Tartuffe" for the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. During that period, I made cuffs, collars, cravats, bows and adjustments in several of the costumes designed by Katie Davenport for the show. It was a great opportunity to put into practice my knowledge of sewing and period making.
About the play:
The Abbey Theatre’s Tartuffe is a classic dramatic comedy about a hypocrite; a fraud who inveigles himself into a family’s home and heart.
Molière didn’t know he was writing about 21st century Ireland, but Frank McGuinness certainly did. We can all recognise figures like Tartuffe, who say one thing but do another behind closed doors. The difference is that, today, Tartuffe uses 280 characters and knows all the best angles for his selfies.
Under Caitríona McLaughlin’s direction, Frank McGuinness’s retelling of this exuberant farce is wrapped in a flamboyant production, reflecting the age in which we live. Lavish design and costumes are more haute couture than baroque, while the pop-influenced soundtrack is a statement in itself.
Written by: Molière
In a new version by: Frank McGuinness
Director: Caitríona McLaughlin
Set and Costume Designer: Katie Davenport
Lighting Designer: Sinéad Wallace
Composer and Sound Designer: Philip Stewart
Movement Director: Paula O'Reilly
Voice Director: Andrea Ainsworth
Casting Director: Sarah Jones
Production Dramaturg: Tanya Dean
Hair and Makeup Designer: Leonard Daly
Associate Composer and Sound Designer: Jane Deasy
Assistant Lighting Designer: Matt Burke
Photographer: Ros Kavanagh
For Valere, played by Emmanuel Okoye, I transformed a pair of skinny trousers into a straight leg and added the golden lace trim to both sides. The sky blue coat had a detail on the sleeves sewn by hand.
I added the small bow and ribbons to Mariane's dress played by Emma Rose Creaner.
For the officer played by Darragh Shannon, I made the bow-stripped cravat, added a frill to each cuff of the shirt, fixed the back seam of the tailcoat and adjust the hem on the breeches.
For the servants, I sew the caps for both women. I mended the ripped parts of Amy Conroy's dress and added frills to the cuffs and bust. Clare McKenna's shirt had sleeves made shorter.
For Tartuffe's second costume, I added the colourful pleated fabric to the hem of the breeches, and I sew by hand black feathers to the white fake fur added to the collar of Ryan Donaldson's coat. I also added the patterned petals to the sleeves and the chain closure on the front of the coat. For Darragh Shannon as Louis XV, I sew the ruff collar and added 2 feathers to the headpiece.
I added the lace to the Knickers Shorts and made the aubergine silk cravat for Orgon played by Frank McCusker.
