The Wardrobe Mistress

Monday, 10 February 2014

Random Musings

Things are fairly quiet here in the wardrobe at the moment. We have had a couple of small, modern plays on the trot so I'm doing a bit of house keeping. Sorting out the undies today and discovered these two that made me laugh........

Little and large.

A 46E and a 32AA to be precise!

Monday, 27 January 2014

Snow Queen Photos

....and there it was gone! In a puff of glitter.Quite literally!!

This stuff gets every where. Still finding it in odd places nearly a month later.

It took 6 months of thinking and planning, 6 weeks of construction, making and fitting and about a week to dismantle and put away. It was so all encompassing that I didn't have any time to update on the way so here are some piccys of some of the work in progress, fittings and performances. Enjoy........

The Snow Queen's wig and head dress

The headdress was quite heavy so we ended up sewing it to the wig. The wig itself needed constant attention. Daily spraying, backcombing and glittering.

Gerda's pocket

This beautiful pocket was probably the starting point of the design concept. I had a book of Swedish folk costume and loved the vibrant reds and colourful embroidery on black. The pocket is key in the story of Gerda as it is where she puts the icy shard plucked from Kai's heart. This pocket was made by a very talented lady called Eileen who volunteers for me in the wardrobe department.

Does anyone speak Swedish?

A few pictures of Gerda's (Moira Hickson) fitting

First fitting before the yards of braid was added.

Practicing hairstyles. You can also see pinning down the back of the bodice ready to be taken in.

Gerda's coat with added braid. This was based on Lyra's coat in the film 'The Golden Compass'

and some more of the cast

Cobweb spider (Chris Neale) trying out his beard

We used fullers earth to create a thick layer of dust on Cobweb's coat. We also covered him in cobwebs (obviously!)

...and boots

Luke Hull as the Prince

Most members of the cast had multiple roles. Luke had to go from Polar bear to Prince to robber to Ice Ghost. This meant under and over dressing and having to make a few compromises with some of the costumes.

Etta Geras as the Robber Queen

Both the Robber Queen and Grandma were wearing ALL of the clothes!!

Some of my fantastic wardrobe ladies enjoying a well deserved festive treat

The following are production photographs (dress rehearsal in fact) taken by the lovely Sean Owen of Reflective Arts. Please do not reproduce without permission.

Kai (Daniel Robertson) & Gerda (Moira Hickson)

..and Etta Geras as Grandma

Rebecca Chapman as the Snow Queen

Making an entrance

Hard Bear (Dawn Brindle) & Soft Bear (Luke Hull)

Gerda and the Ravens

Giles Conneely as King Grin

The Robber Queen with Twitch, Muscles and Nico

Snow Queen and Kai

Gerda meets the Ice Ghosts

Polar bears in action

Kai trapped in the ice

Gerda saves Kai

Ta da!

Grandma warming up

Sun goddess Bhima (Dawn Brindle)

The robbers

Cobweb and King Grin

Scruff and Aunty Peck the Ravens

In the Snow Queen's Palace

Little Redhead (Hattie Amie) and Gerda

Princess, Prince and Bhima

Many thanks to the following people for all their help with the Snow Queen costumes -

Amy Jean Moore

Martin Frost

Christine Rees

Suzanne Bell

Eileen Collisson

Edna Rudd

Judith Symonds

Sarah Prince White

Chrissie Blackburn

Thursday, 28 November 2013

Yet more glitter

Excitement here in S.Q.H.Q. My shipment of glitter has arrived! Crystal Iris Jewels and Squares to be precise. If ever you need any type of glitter then I can't recommend Flints Theatrical Chandlers enough.www.flints.co.uk

This is what 500g of glitter looks like

Monday, 25 November 2013

It Has Begun

It's starting to get really sparkly in here. Had first fitting with the Snow Queen herself on Friday. Now have to prepare her costume and Kay's and Gerda's for promotional photos next Tuesday. It feels good to be actually making a start. There is only so much research you can do! I do have an awful lot of things to make but with my team of wonderful volunteers, that shouldn't be too much of a problem. I think I still need more glitter though. You can never have enough glitter!

The beginnings of the wig

Detail of the Snow Queen's entrance cloak

Friday, 8 November 2013

A snowy dress fit for a queen

Tentative steps.

This is the costume I've wanted to make all my professional life and now I get to make it and I don't know where to begin! I do have some guidelines to help. I can't be completely white as it would get lost in the set so I'm thinking a base under dress of white satin with an overlay of silver mesh. Also, thinking of a cloak of ice blue velvet with grey fur trimming and white satin lining. The actress has mentioned that she doesn't fancy anything too figure hugging and I really like the idea of textures and layers and trying to avoid the evil queen stereotypes. So I'm making samples and sketching for the first time in years

Playing with fabrics and textures

The Snow Queen's boots

The first of many sketchy ideas

I love the fluid textures here. It looks very icy but isn't white ('Morphos' from world of wearable art website)

Next step, a few more sketches and a consultation with the actress. Knock up a toile and get cracking. There will be a lot of sparkles to sew on!

Thursday, 7 November 2013

Of braid and sparkles and polar bears......

The time has come to begin what I have been looking forward to all year. Time to stop pinning and looking at pretty pictures. Time to make decisions, write lists and start sewing and constructing and assembling. All this is easier said than done. But where to start? How about a box full of braid?

To get an idea about how all this treasure will be put to use, just take a look at my Pinterest board for the Snow Queen

http://www.pinterest.com/mandamand/snow-queen/

No better place to start than with the Snow Queen herself and so my next post will cover the first steps in realising her costume.....