An Analysis of Character Makeup Development in Reflecting Personality and Emotion in the Stage Play Krong Kam

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the development of makeup design in the stage play Krong Kam in order to examine the role of makeup design in reflecting the personalities, characteristics, emotions, and character development throughout the narrative. The study focuses on changes in makeup styles, color schemes, and techniques that correspond to the characters’ emotional conditions, social contexts, and internal conflicts. This qualitative research employs performance analysis, visual documentation of the performances, and aesthetic analysis to explain the relationship between makeup design and meaning-making in theatrical performance. The findings reveal that makeup design in Krong Kam plays a significant role in constructing character identity, reflecting emotional development, and supporting narrative communication through the use of colors, styles, and facial details that change according to the situations and conflicts experienced by the characters. Furthermore, makeup design functions as a symbolic communication tool that enables audiences to perceive the characters’ social status, psychological conditions, and internal transformations more clearly. The knowledge gained from this study indicates that theatrical makeup serves not only as an aesthetic or realistic component of performance, but also as a process of meaning-making that effectively conveys character development and emotional expression. The findings may also be applied as a guideline for makeup design in contemporary stage productions.