Actors in period costumes designed by Quindell Ferguson. - Contributed Photos Krista Henry, Staff Reporter

To act the part, you have to look the part. In theatre, costumes bring a set to life. Designing costumes for some of the biggest productions is Quindell Ferguson of Q &E Costumes, Art and Craft Supply.

A graduate of the School of Arts, Ms. Ferguson specialises in textiles and has taught herself the ins and outs of designing for the theatre.

"I do costumes, set dresses, stage management. I love the theatre," Ferguson commented.

Through reading a lot of books on theatre and costumes, she has become a master of the art.

While costume designing may seem easy to some, Ms. Ferguson says it requires a lot of research.

"There are fancy costumes, traditional costumes which requires you to research the period. For example, a masquerade is set in the 1840s, you have to know what was hot then. Some costumes go in depth and take weeks, some take (a) week," she explained.

Quindell Ferguson has designed for all of Basil Dawkins plays, for David Heron, Norman Ray Productions, the recent play, One Night of Sunshine, all of Ashton Cook's productions and more.

She has just completed work with the Jamaica Youth Theatre for Masquerade, which won best costume at a show in St. Lucia.

She has been nominated twice for the Actor Boy awards for best costume. Outside of theatre she has done costumes for numerous music videos, numerous advertisements including the ever colourful Courts ads, for the movie From Glory to Glorianna and many more.

"Without the costumes, the show can't go on. It brings the actors or the characters alive. You need a costume to portray the part. It's important in the overall delivery," she stated.

FERGUSON