Day 5 Last day

Today was my last day,  they were rehearsing today so i got the opportunity to listen to it again.  Today i did a few alterations to a crinoline where the hook and bars were coming undone.  I again made some more rosettes today preparing for the new cast which will replace the current in the next few weeks.  i have learnt a lot from the daytime maintenance of the wardrobe, the variety of tasks done keep it from being repetitive.  The laundry and organising of everything was surprising, i didn't realise that they wash and iron shirts after every performance and other things as well, i would have thought it would have been maybe every other night.  i felt very welcome here and learnt a lot from each employee.

PM - This evening i followed the plot of Fantine and a swing boy.  Fantine like when doing the swing girls gets herself into the dress hers changes once quickly at the edge of the stage before she becomes her character.  This was a really interesting plot to follow as the actress has to change on stage as it is quick so both the dresser and the wig dresser has to dress up as characters and sit behind all the swing to change her.  I found this so interesting and feel this would be such an exciting role to have being that involved would be good.  I just watched from the edge of the stage, they were so quick at changing her, i didn't even notice as an audience member. 
She had one more change which again was off to the stage wings and then we collected the previous clothes and took them back to the laundry and hung up the others ready for the next day.
      We then went back down to the swing boys dressing area to help dress one of the boys.  This role again moved around, we had to do a change in a small room to the edge of the stage with a door directly onto the stage and the other out to the public stairs.  This was a less busy role as the actresses character died and the swing boy changed twice then stayed for the barricade. 

Overall i have had a really interesting week, most surprises were in the evening, i didn't realise how much goes on behind the stage  during the performance.  How varied each plot is and how much responsibility each dresser has.  i really like shadowing in the evening and feel it had inspired me into looking further into it as a career option.  The day time activities again interested me but i feel which was back up by the maintenance team that starting as a dresser would be advisable to gain vital experience and knowledge of costumes and how theatrical costumes work.