I found my inspiration in the world of the tarot, but also in the Italian Renaissance and the world of Leonardo da Vinci, with a nod to other painters of that time, such as Hieronymus Bosch and Raphael.” (Renée April, Costume Designer)

ZED is above all a show driven by its characters, who are inspired by the mysteries of the tarot. This rich gallery of colorful individuals gave director Francois Girard a poetic premise to build on, and the task of dressing them fell to costume designer Renée April. ZED is the meeting of two worlds: the sky – where iridescent colors, paler shades and pearl and silver predominate – and the earth, which recalls the Italian Renaissance, with an emphasis on ochre, green, intense turquoise, gold and Venetian blue.

“I was aiming for a certain homogeneity and purity of line in keeping with the visual world of François Girard,” explains Renée April. “The 150 costumes in the show also reveal my playful side, but they are not caricatures. I work a lot through emotion and intuition. I always prefer works that project the viewer into a distant era. Even though that calls for more in-depth research, I am not trying to replicate the era in great detail. I always concentrate more on an interpretation of it.”

The Characters and Their Costumes:

The Shaman - Master of the Arcana, the Shaman wears a transparent copper-colored mesh outfit that contrasts with his black skin. White tribal patterns are painted onto his costume and he also wears a tribal headdress, a coat that is open in front and a twisted leather cape decorated with belts encrusted with small items such as stones and pieces of fur.

Djinn - His costume is made from a stretch silicone material adorned with a kind of gold leaf, which makes it look as though he is wearing a huge Aztec or Inca necklace. Covered in tattoos, he is dressed in gold and turquoise blue with shades of green.

The People of the Sky - Turquoise, blue and iridescent colors predominate in these poetic characters’ costumes. They are made from a fabric that looks fragile, but is in fact very durable. It is impossible to know where the suit ends and where the skin begins. The characters look like dragonflies with large antennas or elves. The Nymphs, who also belong to this people, are dressed in chiffon and cristalette, and resemble jellyfish with fiery tails.

Nouit, The Great Goddess - he creator of the firmament, Nouit is fitted with 14 wings and a headpiece that lights up. Her costume is decorated with 400 LEDs.

Kernoun, The God of Hell - The medieval character Kernoun, who holds fire in his hands, wears laced boots and a large silk coat that turns gradually from yellow to dark brown ochre, and onto which a hundred cornettes – orange and red flowers – have been sewn. Many of them are motorized to create a ripple effect.

The Satyrs and Jugglers - These characters, who embody the indomitable forces of nature, wear “justaucorps,” costumes that reveal their muscles and bear flames that go over their heads like the horns of goat.

Abraka, King of the Earth - The magus Abraka wears a chain mail coat and a large royal collar. When he raises his arms, his four wings, which range gradually from purple to gold, spread out over 18 meters. His costume required 200 meters of cloth pleated by hand and printed with designs using a technique called sublimation, which fixes the images in the fibers of the material. Abraka is flanked by servants who wear gold and blue Venetian livery.