Designing the Student Body

Designing the Student Body: A Retrospective Exhibit Exploring 25 Years of Student Costuming in McGill’s Drama and Theatre Program

Curated by Samuel Neuberg (U2, Arts)

At Convocation this year be sure to catch the costume exhibit: Designing the Student Body. The exhibit explores the past 25 years of costumes that have been made by McGill Drama and Theatre Program students for English Department Productions. Hidden away in the basement of the Arts Building, the Costume Shop is home to students with a passion for creativity in costuming and design. Unknown to many, every year a team of talented students works behind the scenes in Costuming for the Theatre 1 and 2 – the costume production courses – in which students are responsible for all aspects of the design and production of the costumes worn by student actors in that year’s two main stage shows. Under the guidance of Resident Costume Designer and Head of Wardrobe, Catherine Bradley, students must think creatively as they learn the ins-and-outs of designing and dressing a full scale theatrical production.

Designing the Student Body recognizes all the hard work done by the students who create the garments that bring a production to life.  Running daily from 11am-3pm, May 30th to June 2nd , the exhibit will display selected garments from past productions such as: Shakespeare’s The Tempest ('93), Goldoni’s The Servant of Two Masters ('95), Molière’s Tartuffe ('93), Wilde’s The Importance of Being Ernest ('08), and this year's main stage production, Jonson’s The Alchemist ('11). Located in the Costume Shop itself, the exhibit gives the public a rare opportunity to view both the costumes, and the very space in which these garments are made.

A unique opportunity for students, parents, faculty and alumni alike, this exhibit is not to be missed!