Written by award-winning performer and playwright Charlie Josephine, I, Joan is a powerful retelling of Joan of Arc's story and has been described as ‘alive and queer and full of hope’. Rebelling against the world’s expectations, questioning the gender binary, Joan finds their power and their belief spreads like fire.
Researching for I, Joan was a journey in itself. I wanted to show Joan’s power and the blending of genders via their costume while keeping in mind that the production is quite dance-based, so costumes needed to allow for a range of movement. And on the set design, it needed to lend itself to both the past and the present while allowing plenty of space for action.
For the costume design, I looked at 1400s clothing, French military wear, and also ways to elevate the presentation of the characters’ gender through clothing. My favourite element of the costume to design was the armour. I took inspiration from my visit to The Wallace Collection’s vast armoury, which included items true to the period. Joan’s armour is the most important and is used to create the image of a warrior, so this was a key piece of costume. I used a mix of modern and period-inspired elements and accessories in the design to compliment the energy of the play which aims to tell Joan’s story in a more modern way.
For the set design, I researched 1400s architecture and the history and context of the play. I needed to work out where and how the characters would be travelling, and I also had to look at ways to manipulate the light. I wanted the use of light to be prominent and to create atmosphere during the tense and emotional scenes. I took a lot of inspiration from the stained glass windows in French cathedrals, using the Grande Rose in Reims and the main window in the Notre Dame de Paris as direct influences for my main hanging scenic elements.
To have my first paid commission starting as soon as I graduated has just been brilliant. It has been a bit of a learning curve, moving from student life to freelancer life and finding the dynamic between different jobs, but I’m getting there and really enjoying this next chapter now.
I really love how every day is so different, whether it’s making things, or visits for research, or seeing how the actors interact with my props or set – it’s really varied and keeps me on my toes!
I’ve really enjoyed working on this project, from making a 3D model of the set in the beginning to working with the set builders and students on the real thing – it’s been a great start to my freelancing career.
I, Joan, AUB Productions’ first show of the season, runs from 7-9 November 2024 at our very own Palace Court Theatre. Tickets start from just £4 with group booking discounts and concession tickets also available.
