Institute of Art Design + Technology
Dún Laoghaire
On Show 2020
Bobbie McDonnell

For my final year Major Project I chose to study the play ‘A Dolls House’ by Henrik Ibsen for theatre production. The play was a breakthrough in theatre at the time of its release. It was also one of the first in which the patriarchy is challenged and women are portrayed as free thinkers. One of the reasons I chose this play was the time period in which it is set: 1880. Period costume is something that I am passionate about and I wanted to further my knowledge and skills by choosing a play in the late Victorian era. I designed all the characters costumes and chose one character to bring to life. The character that I chose was Nora Helmer. Designing and making Nora’s costume gave me the chance to explore the intricacies of an 1880s dress.