Stage clothes

Theatrical costumes can help actors portray characters' age, gender role, profession, social class, personality, and even information about the historical period/era, geographic location, time of day, as well as the season or weather of the theatrical performance.

In combination with other aspects, theatrical costumes can help actors portray characters' age, gender role, profession, social class, personality, and even information about the historical period/era, geographic location and time of day, as well as the season or weather of the theatrical performance.

Often, stylized theatrical costumes can exaggerate some aspect of a character; for example Harlequin and Pantaloon in the traditional commedia dell'arte.

In certain cases, duplicates of the same stage clothes are prepared for a production, such as when performing in stunts involving bullet hit squibs.

A movie or stage production which emphasize the use of correct clothes and settings for a specific time period is called a costume drama.