Creating safe and inclusive costuming spaces

The process of costuming a role for the stage puts performers and technicians invulnerable positions, yet current practices have fallen short in creating reliably safe and inclusive environments where both performers and technicians can do their work without experiencing harassment or discrimination. Through a literature review, survey research, and professional observation, this thesis offers an overview of current research in relevant fields, exploration of current practices and needs within costuming, and a framework to evaluate and improve the safety and inclusion of costuming spaces. To establish the most widely applicable framework, the research will not focus on the needs of any single identity group. The intent is to provide costume supervisors the tools to view their workspaces through a new lens and to empower them to create more universally accessible and inclusive spaces for any and all people.