Remaking Sarah Siddons's Hamlet Costume

Abstract

This honors thesis examines Sarah Siddons’s role as Hamlet. I consider the historical period and cultural climate in which she performed, her performances and their receptions, and how she influenced 19th-century theatre and ideas of gender and sex. To aid my research, I re-create the costume that she wore for her 1802 performance, as depicted by Mary Sackville Hamilton in her diary sketch. By wearing this costume myself I gain insight into how Sarah Siddons appeared on stage to her audiences and how the costume may have affected her ability to portray a male role.