Think Tank Thursday: Historical Accuracy vs. Function with armor

It's  rare that armor is used on stage. It's expensive, heavy, cumbersome, and hard to keep clean.

If you do end up using armor there are trade offs for historical accuracy over stage needs.
You may not have your play in the lucky time period or setting to have the best armor technology available. At armors high point it was designed for optimal movement in battle and protection. As things continued past the peak, armourers had to do something to stand out so they started decorating. Ae the decorations increased the function decreased. If people couldn't move well back in a type of armor then you can bet people can't move well now.

Then there is fastening the armor. Historical armor had steel fasteners on  the outside with leather straps on the inside. This was to protect the leather from being attacked and disabling the armor. For stage, having the leather on the outside allows for ease of wear and removal and more room to adjust to different wearers and body types.

Then there is the type of metal, where its from, its shape, design, etc. In the end you have to decide if all the detail is worth the added stress added to the costume department and the actor wearing the thing.
The audience will notice the work and appreciate it, but if the story isn't enhanced then its all superfluous.

Greg