War, revolution and design: exploring pedagogy, practice-based research and costume for performance through the Russian avant-garde theatre

This article results from a public Q&A at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London exploring expert perspectives on theatre practice during the Russian Avant-Garde in the context of the museum’s exhibition Russian Avant-Garde Theatre: War, Revolution and Design (2014–15). Fashion historian Amber Jane Butchart posed a series of questions on war, revolution and design to theatre scholar and practitioner Melissa Trimingham, and designer and costume scholar Donatella Barbieri. Their conversation considers the new scenographic spaces of the early avant-garde, with particular emphasis upon costume, the pedagogic impact of this early work and their own practice-based research.