ABOUT

About The Event
The Mary Shelley Takeover was a free collaborative event held at AUB Campus on Friday 30th November 2018. It was a part of The Shelley Frankenstein Festival hosted by St Peter's Church to celebrate Mary Shelley. Short performances were held at various sites on campus, each telling a story related to Mary Shelley's work and life. They were named; Ghost Stories, Cemetery Junction, Lover's Dance, Electricity, Monsters, Wollstonecrafts, The Lab, Angry Mob, Travelling Musicians, Children Hour and The Exhibitioners.

About the Designs
The costumes were designed by Sophie Fretwell and were inspired by Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Fretwell's vision for the costumes featured historical silhouettes with a contemporary twist. My costume was featured in the Children's Hour and was for the creepy character 'Twin 1' paired with 'Twin 2'. The costumes are almost identical but with 'Twin 1's' costumes containing blue accents and pink for 'Twin 2's'. Together the costumes resembled a face with umbrellas as the eyes.

About the Characters
These mischievous and inseparable twins were formulated by Sophie and were heavily inspired by The Monster Kids and the twins from The Shining. They come from a pre-occupied upper-class family that leaves them to their own devices. Leaving them in the hands of the 'Ghastly Governess' who is strict and cold. Dealing with also having to care for a baby, she neglects the twins and when left unsupervised these two are known to have murderous intent.

About the Costumes
The costume construction consisted of a bib with a peter pan collar, stays with bunting-like ruffles around the neckline with direct smocking and bows details on the front. As well as pleated skirts draped over 18th-century pocket hoops with an appliqued mouth on the front and a giant bow on the back, accessorized with a hand-painted eye umbrella.
The blue and pink fabric accents were dyed from white to ensure the colours complimented each other. Both costumes use the same decorative and construction techniques so that visual consistency was maintained. The patterns used are from Mandy Barrington's book, Stays & Corset.

Credits:
Written and Directed By Lorna Rees
Soundscape by Paul Keeley
Costumes by Sophie Fretwell
Mark Bishop
Frankenstein - Twin 1
Designed by Sophie Fretwell
Supervised by Hannah Gilbert
Photographed by Jayne Jackson Photography
Blue costume
Made by Maiya Alladice
Modelled by Emily Mclaughlin
Accompanying costume
Made by Caitlin Bromley
Modelled by Jordan Finding