Theatre Makeup History

Theatre has been a form of entertainment for persons for ages. If you think about it, plays simply depict life and life is full of expression. And what better way to portray expression than to use makeup? Be that as it may, makeup wasn’t always used in the theatre and it certainly was not used in the form that we are familiar with today. Much has evolved in the history of theatre makeup.

 

Early Greeks were very much into portraying drama on stage. They generally used masks to use depict different characters. One actor usually played more than one personality and changing personas with masks was much easier to do that having to remove and re-apply makeup. However, there is an account of a Greek actor who wanted to stand out from the rest of the cast and decided to paint his face with poisonous lead mixed with other elements so that his face was red and white instead of using the traditional mask. This may have been the advent of makeup use in theatre.

 

 

From the 1500s and 1600s, theatre makeup use became more popular as Queen Elizabeth herself was using it regularly. Actors used chalk and soot to convey expression on faces. False beards also began to make an appearance. During this time the Japanese kabuki actors also used elaborate makeup in red, white and black. Other substances used for makeup included white powder or chalk, burnt cork and paper and pigment powders. Drawing on beauty marks was also a very important part of theatre makeup at the time. The whole face had to be made up larger than life as the stage was lit only by gas stoves and candles.

 

As time went on, theatre makeup evolved. The dangerous face paint became safer and more sophisticated as lard was combined with pigments to create greasepaint. A German actor invented this and the result was smoother makeup with a more versatile application. As the 20th century rolled around, more makeup items were introduced, like lipsticks and eyeliners for the actors.

 

In 1914, the legendary Max Factor made a makeup breakthrough that impacted the entire cosmetic world. He came up with pancake makeup; this water based product provided coverage that was matte and thick, very appropriate for the stage where skin is under the scrutiny of more professional grade lighting.

 

Today’s theatre makeup can be used to safely create looks that range from somewhat heavier than everyday makeup to elaborate creations with prosthetics. As makeup continues to evolve, like high definition makeup today, there is little doubt that even more looks and characters can be produced by makeup, a product with such humble beginnings.