A Very Expensive Poison
The nature of ‘A Very Expensive Poison’ allowed for realism within the design to be ruptured in a really exciting way. The multitude of different time periods, locations and characters lent itself to the inclusion of playful, sometimes absurdist elements. Some moments became dream-like and over the top whilst others stayed intimate and grounded. Alexander Litvninenko remains dressed in his hospital gown throughout the entirety of the play, a constant reminder of his tragic fate, whilst Boris Berezovsky sings in satin leopard print with a dead fox wrapped around his neck. The costumes speak to each individual character and underscore what they represent in the world, whilst also commenting on the nature of memory and what, who and how we choose to remember.