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Koala Costume

 Koala Costumes

Priscilla Queen of the Desert - Amateur theatre production September 2021. 
Murray Bridge Players and Singers

I started these costumes in October 2020



The Koala costumes are worn by the actors playing Shirley, Cynthia and Marion. When I made the koalas I didn't know who the actors would be so I made 3 sizes and hoped that would workout. 



The original costumes are a leotard with a jacket. This design by charade-theatrical.com

I wanted something more modest and comfortable for my actors so I went with a long sleeve ice skating leotard which had a skirt and a seperate shrug in fur. 


shrug pattern 

I made the dresses in grey panne velvet and accented them with faux fur. I chose light blue, royal and aqua purely because we had two of these in the stash. One colour for each size so the actor could tell them apart. 
At first the contrast fur accents were just the cuffs and the chest oval but I later added the skirt trim to balance it all out. 
My leotard doesn't have the pants attached because people have very different torso lengths and it would be too hard to alter this part later if needed. The actors wore bike shorts where needed. 
The costume is pulled on over the head as it is stretch fabric and has a wide neckline and low back. 


Front


Back


The costume has negative ease, making it figure hugging and you can see the join in my dress model here.







Shrug

I used a Burda pattern for the shrug, I left off the sleeves and lined it with satin. 





before the chest and skirt trim fur are added


Headpiece



The original production koala ears are huge! I couldn't recreate these so I went for a smaller look. 
For the ears I used some thick felt placemats. I cut the shapes out then made my own pattern to cover them . The cap is a hard felt pirate hat with the brim cut off. 
I made the cap cover and inserted the ears into the side seams. I had to make it so I could insert the felt ears into the fabric and then secure the felt to the cap so the ears wouldn't flop.
















Here is Carly and Lauren modelling the Wattle and Koala costumes


 Photo by  Jaybirdy Photography

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