Threads of The King

These fabric swatches are pieces from the costume design process by Myrna Colley-Lee for The King in The Lion and the Jewel from circa 1959. Through these swatches, it is clear how Colley-Lee carefully selected each material and pattern to reflect a character’s personality and identity. Her intentionality with every single detail of the fabrics shows how passionate she is about costuming and storytelling.

Myrna not only creates costumes, but she also enhances the characters. She carefully studies the play, context, and setting of the play to ensure that the costumes are true to the culture and character within the play. For example, she studied African culture for the play The Lion and the Jewel and created the costumes to ensure that the characters were authentic and culturally appropriate. Specifically, these swatches from The King demonstrate her respect for African culture and attire by combining the bold colors, rich textures, and intricate patterns to represent the royalty and pride The King holds.

This deep commitment to authenticity is why Myrna was so impactful to the Black Theatre Movement. She uses characters and costume design to express the importance of advocating for Black rights, equality, and representation. By combining textures, colors, and patterns, it is revealed that she is a master at costume designing and is committed to telling Black stories on stage with authenticity and pride. Her work goes beyond fabrics and into identity and heritage. These fabric swatches helped shape the character of The King in The Lion and the Jewel, transforming scraps into a living performance.