Blue Regency Gown
The Watsons - Laura Wade
Richard Burton Theatre Company, Spring 2026
Blue Regency gown for the character ‘Emma Watson.’
Photographer
Jorge Lizalde
Lighting Designer
Yiling Liu
Costume Maker for Blue Gown
Isobel Blackburn
Director
Emily Ling Williams
Costume Designer
Enza Kim
Set Designer
Deio Williams
The Design
This dress was designed for the character Emma Watson, the titular character of the show whom the story revolves around.
The design of this gown was based on a portrait of Jane Austen, featuring the same shade of blue, fichu, and shaping as shown in the painting.
Although the design features a large train, this element was adapted for stage by making it shorter to allow for more easy movement.
The Process
A gown created for stage using crepe-back satin, polyester lining, cotton domette backing, a petersham waistband backing to support the skirt, and organdy backing to give body to the sleeves.
The dress features hook and bar and popper fastenings.
The pattern was drafted on the stand for the bodice and skirt, and the sleeve pattern drafted from a Jean Hunnisett pattern.
Pleating and gathering, as well as typical Regency back seam lines were used to create a silhouette of the era.
Once the gown was complete, a decision was made to remove the fichu from the design.
The design also featured an additional skirt which was to be broken down - the skirt was created with hooks and bars for attachment but a decision was made not to use it.
