A Tiny Christmas Carol

This version of the Charles Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol” is set in the late 1840’s with the main character, Ebenezer Scrooge being played by a woman. The whole production was preformed by five actors, with costume changes to signify the character.

The costumes and lighting for this production where to start in a grey scale and slowly progress to full colour by the end of the show. Meaning multiples of many costumes and layers where needed to progress the show to the full colour.

On this production I worked as a Cutter/Stitcher, with a focus on the women’s wear. A lot of the patterns where made through altering Laughing Moon Mercantile patterns to fit the actors and the designers vision, though some were drafted by me. Creating patterns for four day dresses, one evening dress, an overdress, mens vest, mens 18th century shirt, women’s cape with hood and muff, corset, regency dress, and other small things.

Scrooge’s dress (photos below), worn at the beginning of the show (black and white version) and the end of the show (colourful version) were both made of a striped silk yardage. The bodices are cut on the bias and flat lined with cotton. The neck, waist, and armhole are piped and cross stitched down. The pagoda sleeves are cut on the bias, faced, and lined. The skirts are lined with faced pockets and machine hemmed along stripe. The skirt waists are cartage pleated with pleating tape and hand-sewn onto the bodice. At the centre front closer, there is button holes and buttons, but the dress is set up for a quick change. Consisting of snaps and hook and bars instead.