Theatre Costume — Taymor, Julie — 1994 (original costume)

Costume from the musical <i>The Lion King</i> for the character of Scar. The costume consists of a full body leotard worn under tightly fitting corset, and includes leather boots and a tail. The surface of the orange leotard is digitally printed with interlocking black diamonds and stiff leather covered piping has been attached to the corset, arms and hands. A stiff leather 'cage' is worn over the top of the upper section of the costume. S.3139:1-2010: Tightly fitting, full body, lycra leotard. The orange ground has been digitally printed with interlocking black diamonds. Stiff, hand painted tubing, covered with leather has been added to create rows of 'claws' at the edges of the fingerless 'gloves' which cover the wearer's hands. S.3139:2-2010: Tightly fitting lycra corset. The orange ground is digitally printed with interlocking black diamonds. Horizontal bands of plastic nylon tubing, covered with hand painted leather, have been attached in parallel rows which run from the top to the bottom. S.3139:3-2010: Lamnappa leather chaps on a suede base. Diamond shaped and reaching from the hip to the ankle with widest point of the triangle at the mid thigh. Hand painted with overlapping deep brown, russet and black triangles. S.3139:4-2010: Tight fitting, half body, undersuit. Main body of suit made from white jumbo spandex. Additional bands of material have been added with 'pockets' into which the rods of the 'cage' that is worn over the costume can be inserted. Provide structure to support the weight of the stiff and heavy over cage. S.3139:5&amp;6-2010: Long Arm band. Made up of vertical and horizontal rows of nylon tubing covered with hand painted lamnappa leather which fasten around the arm with nylon plastic ties. One of a pair, worn on the forearm. S.3139:7&amp;8-2010 Short Arm band. Made up of vertical rows of nylon tubing covered with hand painted lamnappa leather which fasten around the arm with nylon plastic ties. One of a pair, worn on the upper arm. S.3139:9&amp;10-2010: Leather boot with rubber sole. Slight heel at back and three raised claws at front toe. Hand painted in soft tones of red brown/yellow brown with black claws to resemble lion's paw. One of a pair. S.3139:11-2010: Stiff 'cage'. Worn resting over the shoulders, it runs from the centre of the chest, down the back and rising in to a peak behind the shoulders. Made up of interwoven vertical and horizontal rows of nylon tubing covered with hand painted lamnappa leather and stiffened with steel rods. The weight of this stiff cage is supported rods which are inserted into the white spandex body suit worn underneath the leotard. S.3139:12-2010: Stiff tail. Body of tail covered with soft pale brown suede. Suspended from a leather and velcro strap. This leather panel is concealed behind rows of hand painted leather tubing. S.3139:13-2010: Head dress featuring a sculpted, stylised lion’s face, worn above the performer’s face. Above Scar’s face are a vertical arrangement of stiff lengths of nylon tubing covered with hand painted lamnappa leather, giving the impression of a lion’s mane. S.3139:14-2010: Cane resembling a thorny branch.