Trick of the Trade > Fake Blood Recipe (for the stage)
DEPARTMENT: Props
TOPIC: How to make a safe fake blood mixture for the stage
MATERIAL: You will need:
- 1 part chocolate syrup (e.g. Quik, Nestle’s, etc.)
- 2 parts yellow corn syrup (e.g. Beehive)
- Tapioca starch (4 tbsp for 3 cups/750ml of above mixture) (Rice starch can be used, however corn starch does not make a product that is as shiny and non-cloudy.)
- Red and yellow food colouring
INSTRUCTIONS:
Dissolve starch in a little cold water, like when you are making gravy. Heat the syrups up together and add the starch mixture slowly while stirring. Bring to boil, stirring, and then lower heat to simmer for a ½ hour. Keep stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
Add red and yellow food colouring until right colour (approx. 7 parts red to 1 part yellow).
This can be stored in the fridge. Edible. Washable. Thins with water or with heating up. Thickens when cooled. Can be put into gelatine caps for blood in mouth. Can be used to “bloody” item: allowed to air dry (will stay looking wet and shiny and fresh) and then will wash out after the show comes down*.
Our wardrobe mistress will try to put bloodied items into a cold-water soak as soon as possible as an added precaution, but in general this is the Wardrobe approved blood recipe.
This recipe was also used to splatter onto a white set, and washed off without staining.
* This was tested on white poly-cotton shirts on “dead” bodies, and washed out after 3½-week production.
COST: Less than $20.
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