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"All the world's a stage ... ." The words echo from William Shakespeare's As You Like It. For the Ward Theatre, the stage is the world from which voices echoed, scenes were enacted, and emotions played out to a rousing audience. All that echoes now are sounds of silence, ricocheting from the dark and dim emptiness, and rays of sunlight that permeate the doors and dissipate into the opulent interiors. Charles James Ward built the present structure, its third avatar, in 1912, the theatre opened its doors on December 16 of the same year. Ward, who was the custos of Kingston, is the 'Nephew' in the rum manufacturing company J. Wray & Nephew, which provided the enabling funds. "The Ward Theatre is a magnificent structure, with history written deep into its fabric", said Doreen Thompson of the Ward Theatre Foundation. The Ward Theatre, over the decades, has had its share of anticlimaxes. Here once stood Kingston Theatre, built in 1775...

The arc lights on the stage shining on the costumes of the actors and forming silhouettes can be perceived as dramatic, essential, complementary, or even hard-hitting at times. Theatre couture has an important role in encapsulating the theme of the play, which is as critical as the talent of the actors, blends of light and sound, and the props on the stage. Pirate "Costumes for theatre tend to be more intricate and detailed as they are seen from closer, in a more intimate environment," says Greg Thames, who wears multiple hats of costume and set designer, technical director, stage manager, make-up designer, and director. The theme, colour scheme, design and the look of the costumes have to critically blend with the overall production. "As a designer of costumes for theatre and film, I work closely with the production director to make sure the costumes fit in with their overall vision," says Quiendell Fereguson. Costumes for theatre not only style th...