Venus
Costume Designer
Venus is inspired by the real-life story of Saartjie Baartman. The play is set in the early 19th century and travels from the circus where she performed, to the courtroom, to the anatomist table where her body was eventually dissected and then displayed in a Paris museum until 1974. As a designer I really loved the aesthetic of the world we created inspired by the color and energy of the exploitative 19th century circus, but through a modern visual lens with modern day silhouettes. Experiencing the play from the audience I felt proud that this aesthetic really connected her story to present day. The sexism, racism, and exploitation that Saartjie experienced in her life still exists today. The world we created opened up a space to examine that. Her story will always stay with me from working on this tragic, perfectly paced, poetic, visually-stunning, powerful play. Photography by Zach Rosing.
