Poseidon and Athene in The Women of Troy costume design by Katharine Tarkulich

Hecuba in The Women of Troy costume design by Katharine Tarkulich

Hecuba and Greek Chorus in The Women of Troy, costume design by Katharine Tarkulich

Cassandra rendering from The Women of Troy, costume design by Katharine Tarkulich

Cassandra as bride with veil in The Women of Troy costume design by Katharine Tarkulich

Cassandra with veil in The Women of Troy costume design by Katharine Tarkulich

Cassandra in The Women of Troy costume design by Katharine Tarkulich

Cassandra mourns in The Women of Troy costume design by Katharine Tarkulich

Cassandra and Chorus in The Women of Troy costume design by Katharine Tarkulich

Cassandra and Greeks in The Women of Troy costume design by Katharine Tarkulich

Andromache and Greeks in The Women of Troy, costume design by Katharine Tarkulich

Andromache, Hecuba, and Chorus in The Women of Troy, costume design by Katharine Tarkulich

Talthybius mourns in The Women of Troy costume design by Katharine Tarkulich

Hecuba and Helen in The Women of Troy costume design by Katharine Tarkulich

Helen in chains from The Women of Troy costume design by Katharine Tarkulich

The Women of Troy

This play was set in an other-worldly place, with the black floor painted in a galaxy pattern, a long walkway of gravel, and huge stones placed on the floor with smaller stones hung from the ceiling. For the costumes, we contemplated going in two directions – a direct nod to the war in the Middle East, or a more ethereal, almost dance look. We chose to go with the latter. Poseidon's skirt made him grow out of the stage, and the material was painted with the same galaxy design as the floor, making him literally the city of Troy. Each member of the chorus had ties down their arms that were knotted every performance. The actresses helped each other and used this as part of their process of getting in character. Andromache had the same knotted fabric around her waist. Hecuba wore a small cape that hooked to her wrist, and as she moved to try to rebuild the broken walls of Troy, she had to fight against the pull of the fabric. Cassandra's distressed gown followed her descent to madness as she tore pieces off. Helen dressed all in gold to entice Menelaus, even as the city fell apart. And the Greeks were imposing in their sweeping coats.