How do the costumes in you play communicate to a contemporary audience?

The main factor which has influenced our costume has been the theme we are using to adapt the tempest. Our's is a feminist, hippy theme. The costumes reflect this. The costumes are being used as a way of distinguishing between different character groups. We have the islanders which are wearing the 'hippy' costumes with bright colours and lots of different materials. The king's men should be wearing torn up suits. This links to our idea that our female Prospero was cast away from her home as she was to successful and they resented a women doing so.

The suits I feel could be used as a way of looking at women in the business world, where a glass ceiling exists for women when they try and progress through a company. For many reasons: some may not believe a women could be up to the job. Often the issue is a women's age, employers often worry about hiring women in their 20s and 30s as they may be likely to take time off for maternity leave. 

The costumes that the islanders wear: Prospero, Miranda, Caliban and Ariel, all look from the designs as though they are thrown together. They are extremely colorful and unusual, totally different to what you normally see people walking down the street wearing. This could show an audience the difference between the world the kings men live in and the world they are now in. It helps to bring to life the mystical atmosphere in the island and the magic that Prospero's character has over the island and it's elements.