Theatre Maker and Designer
SUSIE BEARE
Costume
Drawn to texture and the natural world, I often find my own work and designs to reflect what I see around me. with a passion for working with fabric I use the medium to create shapes and forms to build up the layers often found in nature. In my making work, I take pride in my garments finish and have an eye for detail.
Rats Tales
Senior Costume Maker
The Egg, Bath
June 2021
Director: Chris Garner
Set Designer: Paul Sage
Costume Designer: Niamh Moxon
Lighting Designer: Will Holmes and Amy Palmer
Sound Designer: Charlie Wilsher
Photos: Nick Spratling
Rats Tales was a group of stories told by the travelling performers of Bath Spa Productions. They told classic stories like The Pied Piper and lesser known tales like Invisible and Wooden Maria.
I was Senior costume maker for this show and together with my team, made the costumes for Maria in Wooden Maria. In her story she revealed dress after dress! One dress was reversible, the other had ties at the back for a quick change but the final reveal was the biggest challenge. We made the blue dress with the yellow one inside it so that when she removed the blue bodice the yellow dress came pouring out. A truly magical reveal!
Blood Wedding
Costume Designer and Maker
I designed for the characters The Moon, The Bride and The Weaver in 'Blood Wedding' and developed and made the moon design into a full costume.
I made a boned corset, created my own textile panels which made up the bodice and train and adapted an existing 2nd hand wedding dress into the skirt. I wanted this character to feel etherial and Godess-like but also wanted to hint at the texture of the moon surface in the garment.
The Peacock
Costume Designer and Maker
I made this Peacock costume as part of a design for theatre project. I wanted to create a bold but simplistic design and use elements of the peacock's features to make the audience connect to the human playing this character. The design was inspired by large carnival style costumes where big structures are used to fill the parade with colour.
The Lion
Costume Designer and Maker
This Lion costume was inspired by Julie Taymor's work on The Lion King. I wanted to use her style as inspiration but use fabric to create the effect of the mane and make a stylistic mask to highlight the main features of the face so that light and shadow would pick them up on stage. I was inspired by indigenous art styles and the clothing some tribes wear as a part of their culture.
Mother Tongue
Costume Assistant
The Forum, Bath
May 2021
Directors and Writers: Jesse Jones and Helena Middleton
Set Designer: Nicola Crawford
Costume Designer: Sam Phelps
Lighting Designer: Alice Barnfield
Sound Designer: William Holmes
Photos: Nick Spratling
This production was a devised piece by The Wardrobe Ensemble and Bath Spa students. It was inspired by The Tower of Babel and touched on themes of communication in the modern world. I made two garments for this show that two of the 'Gods' wore.
Men's Frilly Pants
Costume Maker
While on placement with Will Skeet, I was taught how to use stretch fabric to make a paid of men's elasticated pants. I then roll hemmed some fabric and added the frills to the pants to create the final look.
A Christmas Carol
Costume Designer and Maker
I designed and made the costume for the character The Ghost of Christmas yet to come in 'A Christmas Carol'
I made a hooded bodice, gathered skirt and over skirt all in tones of grey to give it a ghostly feel. I was inspired by victorian fashion, hooded monk robes and the fashion design of the modern clothes brand 'Forgotten Tribes'.
