Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off, 2020
​
MFA Performance Costume Final year project
Online portfolio: https://issuu.com/beckyhollis/docs/beckyhollis
“Once upon a time, there were twa queens on the wan green island, and the wan green island was split inty twa kingdoms. But no equal kingdoms.”
Liz Lochhead, 1987
Mary Queen of Scots Got Her Head Chopped Off, a play by Liz Lochhead, examines the titular tragic figure. Lochhead’s play explores the time from Mary Stuart’s return to Scotland until her death in 1587. The text uses key historical events to lead the timeline along, whilst simultaneously playing with anachronistic details and symbolism to bring the story into a contemporary context.
Written in 1987, marking the 400th anniversary of Mary Stuart's death in 1547, the play explores a range of themes: religious intolerance, gender and power, national identity, politics and class relations. These themes are not only significant to the historical setting but also within contemporary Scotland. The play encourages a cross-examination of our past and present, and a questioning of the prejudices that still exist today.
Lochhead is faithful to key historical figures throughout Mary’s time in Scotland. However, through an anachronistic lens, these characters can be viewed from a new perspective. Against the backdrop of a playground, the characters will be costumed in an amalgamation of 16th century and 1980s clothing; bodices will be shell suit jackets, trunk hose will become tracksuit bottoms, doublets will have zips, and bum rolls will become bum bags.
Mary's Act I costume
​
The actors playing Mary and Elizabeth double as Marion and Bessie, maidservants to the Queens. The costumes are easily interchangeable as the actors jump from character to character and scene to scene. In order to achieve this, the costume has aspects of historical dress; removable sleeves and a detachable overskirt.
