Charlie Dorey walks us through the language of clothing, tapping into abstract interpretations and their experience of designing costumes for AUB Productions’ upcoming performance of Still Here.
When did you first know you wanted to pursue costume design as a creative practice?
For as long as I can remember I’ve always had a strong passion for creating, loving fashion, design and all types of performance whether it be film, theatre, dance… anything, basically!
I have always loved fashion, and a lot of my earliest memories are my parents taking me to fashion museums like the V&A, buying books on designers like Mary Quant and being very encouraging of my questionable outfits and random sewing projects. My love for costume definitely stemmed from being creatively open to trying everything and never being able to choose between my love of fashion and my love for performance arts.
Costume was so perfect as I felt I could channel both of those passions. Being able to have a deeper understanding of our clothing choices and using that concept to design costumes and then being able to see it come alive in theatre, film or dance is so fulfilling as a designer. There is no boring part of a project, from first reading the script to seeing all the designs realised.
Walk us through your process and how you execute your vision. How have you found costume design for AUB Productions’ upcoming performance ‘Still Here’ versus other projects?
My creative process differs from project to project, as each one is so unique. For scripted projects like Still Here and the grad film I Like This Boy, it was a process of reading the script, pulling words and traits of characters to get inspired by, and finding colours, images, films, shows, all sorts of media to then be able to create mood boards or collages. For other projects – for example, working on Bodyscapes, the dance show – you have to take inspiration in completely different ways as there isn’t a set script or choreography – it’s constantly changing. I had to make sure my design was moving forward alongside the project pulling out shapes, colours, keywords and research to then be able to start creating mood boards and concepts.
How have you found BA (Hons) Design for Costume and Performance at AUB?
My experience at AUB has been such a wonderful journey of learning my own capabilities as a designer. I have learnt so much about the importance of costume design and how much deeper meaning we as designers can bring to a project through the language of clothing, more so than I could’ve imagined.
Alongside this, I have learnt to become a better designer through learning different ways to research, conceptualise, visualise and even just becoming a better artist through learning new techniques and being confident in my work. I couldn’t pick one project throughout my time here that I could say I’m most proud of, as I feel so connected to and passionate about each project – I think each one I do becomes my new favourite!
What do you enjoy outside of costume design?
I would consider creating art and my interest in fashion to be my biggest outlet in my work and outside my work. It’s so freeing to just be able to create something that has come out of your brain. I love to paint and sew whenever I am overwhelmed and even, ironically, if I am overwhelmed with work to do. I think I am just lucky that I love what I do so much it’s work and a hobby. If I’m not creating art, I’m shopping for clothes!
Looking to the future, do you see yourself continuing your practice after graduation?
After university, I would like to take some time to travel as I have so much to learn about the world and different cultures. Beyond travelling, I really do see myself working within the costume department, ideally on the design side, having an opportunity to learn more from other designers to be able to expand my knowledge and grow as a designer myself.
