“Shapes and textures are a way to metamorphose and communicate new ways of thinking – from traditional tailoring to creature costume, body painting and embroidery.”
Originally from Brittany, France, Mona was raised surrounded by Nature, Celtic legends and Crafts. As her passion was continuously growing, she decided to move to the artistic and thrilling city of London where she qualified in a foundation course in art and design, followed by a degree in Theatre design, specialising in costume design.
Mona combines her design and making skills to the creation of characters. Fascinated by people and their culture, she is always in search of new inspirations from all around the world. Mona is captivated by the body and its status in society. She uses it as a canvas to change, masquerade, distort and create characteristic shapes.
Mona has been a mascots and props maker as part of a creative team for popular TV shows, such as the Paul O’ Grady Show and CBeebies Live. She then assisted the costume designer in Tim Rice’s revival of Blondel musical. Later she designed and managed costumes for the show East Side Story which represented the UK at the International Children’s Festival of Performing Arts in New Delhi, India.
Mona then moved to Edinburgh where she focuses on street performances, circus and community art shows. The aspiration to reuse materials and found objects leads her to more experimental work. Mona finds satisfaction in challenging herself.
Clients include performing arts charity te POOKa , community arts organisation the Beltane Fire Society , performing arts social enterprise Bright Night International, Falkirk Youth Theatre, The Puppet Lab, and Scotland’s Street Arts, Physical Theatre and Circus project Conflux
A character shouldn’t only be perceived by the costume he wears on screen. It is necessary to look at a character as a whole including details such as make-up, hairstyle, accessories and ageing of the costume. Identity is the uniqueness that makes everyone special.
In the near future, Mona is interested in expanding her knowledge by putting together creature costumes for performance challenging the limits between fiction and reality in the magical world of theatre and film.
Profile: Mona Kastell
Originally from Brittany, France, Mona was raised surrounded by Nature, Celtic legends and Crafts. As her passion was continuously growing, she decided to move to the artistic and thrilling city of London where she qualified in a foundation course in art and design, followed by a degree in Theatre design, specialising in costume design.
Mona combines her design and making skills to the creation of characters. Fascinated by people and their culture, she is always in search of new inspirations from all around the world. Mona is captivated by the body and its status in society. She uses it as a canvas to change, masquerade, distort and create characteristic shapes.
Mona has been a mascots and props maker as part of a creative team for popular TV shows, such as the Paul O’ Grady Show and CBeebies Live. She then assisted the costume designer in Tim Rice’s revival of Blondel musical. Later she designed and managed costumes for the show East Side Story which represented the UK at the International Children’s Festival of Performing Arts in New Delhi, India.
Mona then moved to Edinburgh where she focuses on street performances, circus and community art shows. The aspiration to reuse materials and found objects leads her to more experimental work. Mona finds satisfaction in challenging herself.
Clients include performing arts charity te POOKa , community arts organisation the Beltane Fire Society , performing arts social enterprise Bright Night International, Falkirk Youth Theatre, The Puppet Lab, and Scotland’s Street Arts, Physical Theatre and Circus project Conflux
Mona is a member of the Society of British Theatre Designers, Equity, the Scottish Street and Circus Artists Network and the Beltane Fire Society.
A character shouldn’t only be perceived by the costume he wears on screen. It is necessary to look at a character as a whole including details such as make-up, hairstyle, accessories and ageing of the costume. Identity is the uniqueness that makes everyone special.
In the near future, Mona is interested in expanding her knowledge by putting together creature costumes for performance challenging the limits between fiction and reality in the magical world of theatre and film.