Innovation in Costume

Squire Hare Body Padding

This project was completed during a first-year innovation module and focused on body padding for the character Squire Hare, based on a 1935 Churchman’s cigarette card. The brief required transforming a human figure into a convincing animal form while retaining movement and performative clarity.

I analysed the hare as both creature and performer, identifying key physical qualities such as agility, strength, and elongated proportion. Body padding was built onto a Lycra base suit, using a sculptural approach to develop shape, balance, and weight distribution.

The padded form acted as a foundation for further costume development, including dye and breakdown processes and headpieces produced by props students.

This project demonstrates early competence in three-dimensional form building, character-led construction, and collaborative working, as well as an understanding of how internal structure supports surface costume and performance.