About

The body is a site rich in story - infinite narratives and identities, shapeshifting through worlds real and imagined.  Costume design offers an intimate practice of investigation and application, the artistry of illuminating worlds as they exist now and may be imagined, as well as representations of the past.  The role of a Costume Designer is precarious, balancing the desires of a researcher for accuracy with those of an artist for poetic license. Within every choice is the significance of history and opportunity to disrupt or reshape a narrative’s existence within the body.   In my personal scholarship, I am curious about the cross-currents of culture and history and how people present themselves in the spaces in-between.  Part of this scholarship extends to viewing theatre as a tool of decolonization and bringing the lived and dreamed experiences of the global majority into sharper focus.   Through this lens I view my artistry as one practice of crafting a visual language which connects the characters and audience to a profoundly dynamic network of history and meaning.  

An element of my approach to costume design is acknowledging myself as an outsider to a narrative.  Each piece I encounter is an entryway into an intimate experience and worldview.  How I find pathways to understanding these experiences, navigating communities, histories, and identities with care and authenticity is what excites me about costume design.  This approach nourishes the creative spirit, broadening the possibilities of engaging with the performer/body, the ritual, and the story beyond the framework of prevailing theatre practices.

meagan.beattie11@gmail.com