gwen 1636 2020
Merlin (2008-2010)
All costumes were designed and made specifically for the production, due to the varied nature of the scripts, which required CGI, prosthetics, stunts and doubles. Principals were made in the UK, while the crowd was made in Hungary.
The tone of each episode varied within the series (eg fantasy, comedy, action, drama ie “storybook”) and aimed at a young demographic. This is reflected in the costumes accordingly (eg choices of colour / levels of distressing costumes etc).
Red was chosen for the Camelot heraldry and so the costumes tied in with this (blue and green hues had to be avoided as there was so much blue and green screen used throughout the production).
Repeats of armour had to be made out of lightweight fiberglass for all the stunts. Some characters required multiple costumes, so the fabrics selected for these were limited to using materials that could be repeated in large quantities. Costumes had to be designed to be practical, durable and resilient to withstand prolonged action sequences, and to last the run of production.
Each season comprised 13 x 45min episodes, shot over 5 blocks, with double banking in France.
Filmed on location in FRANCE and WALES, shot on super 16.
Produced by Shine for the BBC and sold to total of 183 countries.
Directors: James Hawes, Ed Fraiman, Jeremy Webb, Stuart Orme, David Moore, Metin Huseyin, Alice Troughton and Ashley Way
Main cast: Colin Morgan, Anthony Head, Richard Wilson, Bradley James,Angel Coulby & Katie McGrath.
Guest cast included: Charles Dance, Miriam Margoyles, Emilia Fox, Tom Ellis, Laura Donnelly, John Lynch, Joseph Mawle, Emily Beecham, Cal MacAnich, Adrian Lester,Karl Johnson, Kevin Eldron, James Cosmo, Warwick Davis, Donald Sumpter, Ralph Ineson, Kenneth Cranham, Harry Melling, Holliday Grainger, Hope Dempsie and Mackenzie Crook.
Stills: NICK BRIGGS
Arthur, battle outfit made from lightweight fibreglass armour and aluminium chainmail for stunts and riding.Design for Morgana's evening egyptian shawl dressMorgana's evening dress made from vintage egyptian shawls. Cenred detail, made from plaited leather & armoured metal embossed belt. Fisher king reference Decaying Fisher King made from dyed, shredded gauze - Donald SumpterDecaying Fisher King made from dyed, shredded gauze - Donald SumpterDesign for Morgana's armourMorgana armour, made from fine chainmail mesh, tooled leather trim & celtic cast linksAlvarr, Joseph Mawle. made from leather & studs / various paraphernaliaMorgana, made from dyed rough textured silk decorated with iridescent beetle wings.Design for Uther - woven leather and quilted brocade arming jacket trimmed with gold Uther - Tony Head quilted silk and studded leather coatUther made from suede & fibreglass cast cuffs. John Lynch - Balinor design, rough, texturesBalinor - john Lynch, made from rough textures, dyed & distressedQueen Guiniveregwen 1636 2020gwen as queen landscapegwen as queen portrait 2morgause - Emilia Foxmorgause - Emilia FoxKananFreya (Laura Donnelly) - costume made from dyed & distressed fabricYgraine (Alice Patten)- Costume made from distressed lace & overlaid with tulleDetail of Alvarr, Joseph Mawle. made from leather & studs / various paraphernaliaMorgana - red riding hoodMorgana - red riding hoodHengist (James Cosmo) & Kendrick (Michael Nardone)Morganakatie purplw crown 2Trickler design - costume made from a victorian parasole, vintage silk, velvet & ticking.Trickler - jester made from dyed ticking and victorian beaded fabricTrickler entertainsCenred made from distressed woven leather, cross leather belt and cast metal pieces MorganaDetail of beaded bodice made for MorganaKanankanen (Alexander Siddig) - costume made from dyed & distressed fabric, fibre glass helmet & chainmailGaius, dyed textured silk and appliqued embroideryGaius - dyed embroidered fabricmorgana red riding hoodMorganaArthur riddle armourMerlin trailerCharles Dance as Aredian, made from black leather and heavily textured fabric, with belt of aquisitionsMorgana nightdressMorgana evening dress, made from gold lace and embroidery mounted on vintage deco lame Morgana detail of robe made from vintage embroidered sariUther (Tony Head) - costume made from quilted black leather Merlin posterMorgana - costume made from vintage deco beadingMorgana