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THE COSTUMES
from Swan Lake
This production of Swan Lake was designed in 1981 by acclaimed director and designer Philip Prowse.
l There are 30 rails of costumes and 14 large wicker skips of costumes, headdresses and shoes just for Swan Lake – approximately 170 costumes in total!
l Many of the costumes are made from heavy brocade and velvet, and some dancers have four layers of costume on, including tunics and cloaks.
l Many of the costumes are the original ones – over 40 years old! Some costumes, such as the Ambassadors and Nuns, are used in every performance.
l There are 18 Swans on stage at one time. Their headdresses are made of real feathers – chicken hackle.
l It is one of the heaviest ballets in terms of the weight of the costumes – the Master of Ceremonies cloak is kept in a large wicker skip of its own as it is so heavy – about six stone. Most of the cloaks are kept in skips as they are too heavy to hang.
l Swan Lake is one of the most taxing shows for the costume team in terms of weight, castings and laundry. There are 35 pairs of mens tights alone to wash after each performance.
l The Costume department keeps a stock of the original fabrics and trimmings, but as the years go by, they are getting used up and it is becoming harder to source some of them as they are no longer produced. Alternatives need to be found from suppliers in the UK and abroad.
