Behind the Costumes: Something Rotten!
2nd September 2026
Behind the Costumes: Something Rotten!
Creating Character, Movement and an Entire Theatrical World
Some productions ask costume makers to create a single unforgettable statement piece. Others require something quite different: an entire world of characters, each with their own personality, while still belonging unmistakably to the same production.
Something Rotten! was very much the latter.
From individually detailed townspeople and period-inspired Puritans to high-energy chefs, Bard Boys and spectacular coordinated show costumes, DSI London's Made in London team was proud to contribute an extensive range of garments to this exuberant musical production.
Looking at the finished costumes on stage, the first impression is one of colour, character and fun. Behind that apparent effortlessness, however, lies detailed craftsmanship and an equally important understanding of performance. These costumes don't simply have to create a character. They have to move, dance and perform with the cast.
Creating a Town Full of Individuals
For the townspeople, individuality was fundamental.
Rather than creating a uniform ensemble, garments were individually developed for different cast members, helping each performer become a distinct character within the larger theatrical world.
The costumes incorporated an extensive mixture of techniques and details. Pipings were inserted into seams, decorative trimmings were applied to garments, and additional components were layered onto some pieces to create further variation in silhouette and appearance.
Across the ensemble, our team created corseted bodices with built-in tops, generously proportioned full skirts, doublet-style waistcoats with sleeves, trousers and capes.
The result demonstrates something particularly important about ensemble costume production: consistency does not have to mean uniformity.
Each performer can have an individual identity while the costumes collectively create one convincing visual world.
Costumes Made to Move
The chefs presented a completely different challenge.
Their costumes were designed for a particularly high-energy routine, meaning that appearance alone could never determine their construction. The performers needed the freedom to execute demanding choreography while the costumes maintained the intended theatrical look.
Printed fabrics were therefore combined with carefully incorporated stretch areas, bringing visual character and performance functionality together.
Coordinating chef jackets and trousers established the ensemble identity, while gold buttons provided finishing detail. Ruching through the sleeves created a gathered three-quarter-length effect and added further character to the silhouette.
It is an excellent example of a principle that runs through so much of DSI London's work: a successful performance costume has to work for the performer as well as for the production.
Individuality in the Detail
For the Bard Boys, the individuality came through a very different form of craftsmanship.
Each leather jacket was individually created, with different black suede panelling giving every performer a distinctive look while retaining the identity of the group.
Brushed silver metal buttons provided the finishing detail, while carefully executed topstitching added definition and refinement to the construction.
These may appear to be relatively small details when viewed from an auditorium, but collectively they are what give a costume depth and authenticity. Theatre costume-making often depends upon precisely this accumulation of carefully considered details.
A Moment Made for the Stage
The Showpeople provided one of the production's big ensemble showcase moments.
Here the objective changed again.
Rather than emphasising individual differences, the costumes brought the ensemble together through coordinating looks for the women and men. A mixture of fabrics was used to create a unified visual statement designed to make an immediate impact when the full company appeared together.
Against the rich theatrical setting, the effect is striking: costume, choreography, lighting and performance all combine to create the spectacle the audience ultimately experiences.
Creating the Puritan World
For the Puritans, the palette changed dramatically.
The ensemble was dressed in black, with period-inspired garments establishing an immediately recognisable Puritan aesthetic.
Particular attention was given to the collars, which were individually crafted in a variety of styles. Once again, subtle differences helped give personality to individual characters without compromising the overall identity of the group.
And, as is often the case in professional costume production, there are some clever construction solutions hidden inside the finished garments.
We'll keep a few of those secrets in the workshop.
Jeremiah
Our work also extended to one of the production's principal characters, Jeremiah.
His costume continued the visual language established for the Puritan ensemble, with a black period-inspired jacket, waistcoat and trousers creating a coherent connection between the character and the wider group.
It is another example of the importance of costume continuity. Principal and ensemble garments may be individually constructed, but on stage they ultimately have to belong to the same visual story.
Craftsmanship Behind the Performance
What makes Something Rotten! such an interesting addition to our Behind the Costumes series is the extraordinary variety contained within one production.
Corsetry sits alongside tailoring. Leather and suede meet printed and stretch fabrics. Individually characterised townspeople share the stage with coordinated ensembles. Decorative trims, piping, topstitching, ruching and carefully engineered construction all contribute to what the audience ultimately sees.
And beneath all of that lies another essential consideration: movement.
Costumes for musical theatre have to survive the realities of performance. They need to support choreography, allow performers to move confidently and reliably, and continue to deliver the designer's intended visual impact performance after performance.
Bringing those different requirements together is where specialist costume craftsmanship becomes so important.
Created by our skilled team in our South London workshop, the costumes we contributed to Something Rotten! demonstrate the combination of craftsmanship, technical understanding and attention to detail that sits behind DSI London's Made in London production.
The audience sees the finished performance.
Behind the Costumes, there is an entire world of craftsmanship making it possible
Creating Character, Movement and an Entire Theatrical World
Some productions ask costume makers to create a single unforgettable statement piece. Others require something quite different: an entire world of characters, each with their own personality, while still belonging unmistakably to the same production.
Something Rotten! was very much the latter.
From individually detailed townspeople and period-inspired Puritans to high-energy chefs, Bard Boys and spectacular coordinated show costumes, DSI London's Made in London team was proud to contribute an extensive range of garments to this exuberant musical production.
Looking at the finished costumes on stage, the first impression is one of colour, character and fun. Behind that apparent effortlessness, however, lies detailed craftsmanship and an equally important understanding of performance. These costumes don't simply have to create a character. They have to move, dance and perform with the cast.
Creating a Town Full of Individuals
For the townspeople, individuality was fundamental.
Rather than creating a uniform ensemble, garments were individually developed for different cast members, helping each performer become a distinct character within the larger theatrical world.
The costumes incorporated an extensive mixture of techniques and details. Pipings were inserted into seams, decorative trimmings were applied to garments, and additional components were layered onto some pieces to create further variation in silhouette and appearance.
Across the ensemble, our team created corseted bodices with built-in tops, generously proportioned full skirts, doublet-style waistcoats with sleeves, trousers and capes.
The result demonstrates something particularly important about ensemble costume production: consistency does not have to mean uniformity.
Each performer can have an individual identity while the costumes collectively create one convincing visual world.
Costumes Made to Move
The chefs presented a completely different challenge.
Their costumes were designed for a particularly high-energy routine, meaning that appearance alone could never determine their construction. The performers needed the freedom to execute demanding choreography while the costumes maintained the intended theatrical look.
Printed fabrics were therefore combined with carefully incorporated stretch areas, bringing visual character and performance functionality together.
Coordinating chef jackets and trousers established the ensemble identity, while gold buttons provided finishing detail. Ruching through the sleeves created a gathered three-quarter-length effect and added further character to the silhouette.
It is an excellent example of a principle that runs through so much of DSI London's work: a successful performance costume has to work for the performer as well as for the production.
Individuality in the Detail
For the Bard Boys, the individuality came through a very different form of craftsmanship.
Each leather jacket was individually created, with different black suede panelling giving every performer a distinctive look while retaining the identity of the group.
Brushed silver metal buttons provided the finishing detail, while carefully executed topstitching added definition and refinement to the construction.
These may appear to be relatively small details when viewed from an auditorium, but collectively they are what give a costume depth and authenticity. Theatre costume-making often depends upon precisely this accumulation of carefully considered details.
A Moment Made for the Stage
The Showpeople provided one of the production's big ensemble showcase moments.
Here the objective changed again.
Rather than emphasising individual differences, the costumes brought the ensemble together through coordinating looks for the women and men. A mixture of fabrics was used to create a unified visual statement designed to make an immediate impact when the full company appeared together.
Against the rich theatrical setting, the effect is striking: costume, choreography, lighting and performance all combine to create the spectacle the audience ultimately experiences.
Creating the Puritan World
For the Puritans, the palette changed dramatically.
The ensemble was dressed in black, with period-inspired garments establishing an immediately recognisable Puritan aesthetic.
Particular attention was given to the collars, which were individually crafted in a variety of styles. Once again, subtle differences helped give personality to individual characters without compromising the overall identity of the group.
And, as is often the case in professional costume production, there are some clever construction solutions hidden inside the finished garments.
We'll keep a few of those secrets in the workshop.
Jeremiah
Our work also extended to one of the production's principal characters, Jeremiah.
His costume continued the visual language established for the Puritan ensemble, with a black period-inspired jacket, waistcoat and trousers creating a coherent connection between the character and the wider group.
It is another example of the importance of costume continuity. Principal and ensemble garments may be individually constructed, but on stage they ultimately have to belong to the same visual story.
Craftsmanship Behind the Performance
What makes Something Rotten! such an interesting addition to our Behind the Costumes series is the extraordinary variety contained within one production.
Corsetry sits alongside tailoring. Leather and suede meet printed and stretch fabrics. Individually characterised townspeople share the stage with coordinated ensembles. Decorative trims, piping, topstitching, ruching and carefully engineered construction all contribute to what the audience ultimately sees.
And beneath all of that lies another essential consideration: movement.
Costumes for musical theatre have to survive the realities of performance. They need to support choreography, allow performers to move confidently and reliably, and continue to deliver the designer's intended visual impact performance after performance.
Bringing those different requirements together is where specialist costume craftsmanship becomes so important.
Created by our skilled team in our South London workshop, the costumes we contributed to Something Rotten! demonstrate the combination of craftsmanship, technical understanding and attention to detail that sits behind DSI London's Made in London production.
The audience sees the finished performance.
Behind the Costumes, there is an entire world of craftsmanship making it possible
