The design concept blended period influences with contemporary aesthetics through a carefully curated palette of black base garments accented with striking touches of colour for principal characters. This approach subtly referenced period silhouettes through modern tailoring, balancing character, narrative, and the production's pared-back sensibility. A unified black palette for the ensemble provided cohesion, while the leads' thoughtfully chosen accents of russet, navy, blush, and tan highlighted their personalities and relationships, drawing attention to key moments in the narrative.

My fourth creative collaboration with Petra Kalive, our established shorthand proved invaluable as we developed and executed a nuanced design concept in just four weeks, employing a hybrid approach of bespoke costume design for principals and strategic styling for ensemble members. The design invited audiences to 'dream in' to Carousel's rich narrative world, with contemporary fashion that honoured period storytelling while maintaining an understated elegance that amplified the timeless resonance of this rarely staged masterpiece.