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.
Showing posts with label SDP004 Work Experience. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SDP004 Work Experience. Show all posts
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
Monday, 2 April 2012
Day 4
Today was a really interesting day. It was quite easy going as there wasn't a lot to do. it varies from day to day and today was a less busy day. We just did some preperation for the changing of the cast. We sewed on buttons to elastic ready for them to be sewn onto the shirt cuffs for ease of dressing later. i also helped to make rosettes for the barracade ready to get distressed. This was as i said quite a difference from the day before but it helped to show me how varied the daily jobs are of wadrobe.
PM - I was following tonight a lady who dressed the principles, she dressed Cosette, Eponine and Madam Theiardiner. This role was an incredible busy role which involved lots of running around from different areas. Like with the boys many of their costumes changes were done at the side of the stage ro as the dressing rooms were small in the corridor. These girls had many costume changes as like the swing girls they played different parts before and after they are their character. It did involve having to run from one side of the stage to the other and change people quickly showing the more busier side of the job. A lot of the dresses needed doing up with hook and bars so the actress could not do it herself like the other swing girls can on some of theirs. She had a very important role of getting Cosette into her wedding dress very quickly as it was white they place down a sheet so it doesn't get dirty. It has a very pretty lace overskirt whixh goes up the bodice, this is attached by poppers as it comes off for the scene after the wedding as she sits on the floor and they don't want to get it dirty. From the audience point of view its a very minor change that many probably don't notice it. This was a really interesting plot to follow as it was very busy and showed that preparation and organisation is vital.
PM - I was following tonight a lady who dressed the principles, she dressed Cosette, Eponine and Madam Theiardiner. This role was an incredible busy role which involved lots of running around from different areas. Like with the boys many of their costumes changes were done at the side of the stage ro as the dressing rooms were small in the corridor. These girls had many costume changes as like the swing girls they played different parts before and after they are their character. It did involve having to run from one side of the stage to the other and change people quickly showing the more busier side of the job. A lot of the dresses needed doing up with hook and bars so the actress could not do it herself like the other swing girls can on some of theirs. She had a very important role of getting Cosette into her wedding dress very quickly as it was white they place down a sheet so it doesn't get dirty. It has a very pretty lace overskirt whixh goes up the bodice, this is attached by poppers as it comes off for the scene after the wedding as she sits on the floor and they don't want to get it dirty. From the audience point of view its a very minor change that many probably don't notice it. This was a really interesting plot to follow as it was very busy and showed that preparation and organisation is vital.
Day 3
Today i was back in the theatre. It was the matinee day today so we had the sound box on with the musical running in the background. It was a lot busier today as they had to get the washing done for 2 as the matinee performance started then. I didn't help with the washing but observed. I helped today to sew name labels into the new gloves for the next performance along with name labels into shirts. this job was repetitive however it shows that not all theatre work is exciting and these jobs don't do themselves. I did finish these rather quickly though and it helped listening to the show as i did it.
PM
Tonight i followed the Swing boys, the pre set was pretty much the same as the night before. However they have only their first costumes and undergarments in the dressing room the rest of the time they get dressed down stairs under the stage so everything is layed out in reverse order there. We did today have to lay a costume out in the wings as one of the boys has a quick change.
Again like the girls the actors pretty much know what they are doing, apparently you get to know who needs help and who can do it themselves. It surprised me how much banter goes on between not only the actors but with the dressers as well, it was really nice to see that everyone seems on the same level. This was a lot busier role than the night before as we had to move around a bit more. Dressing at the side of the stage again was exciting however it was very busy so i felt like wherever i stood i was in the way, i think that was due to it being such a small space. The guy i was following tonight again was really helpful as he does other stuff in the day which made me realise that i could do this and another job as a maker as well as i didn't originally want to loose that option by becoming a dresser. I realise now i could do both. I really enjoyed this night dressing.
PM
Tonight i followed the Swing boys, the pre set was pretty much the same as the night before. However they have only their first costumes and undergarments in the dressing room the rest of the time they get dressed down stairs under the stage so everything is layed out in reverse order there. We did today have to lay a costume out in the wings as one of the boys has a quick change.
Again like the girls the actors pretty much know what they are doing, apparently you get to know who needs help and who can do it themselves. It surprised me how much banter goes on between not only the actors but with the dressers as well, it was really nice to see that everyone seems on the same level. This was a lot busier role than the night before as we had to move around a bit more. Dressing at the side of the stage again was exciting however it was very busy so i felt like wherever i stood i was in the way, i think that was due to it being such a small space. The guy i was following tonight again was really helpful as he does other stuff in the day which made me realise that i could do this and another job as a maker as well as i didn't originally want to loose that option by becoming a dresser. I realise now i could do both. I really enjoyed this night dressing.
Sunday, 1 April 2012
Day 2
After watching the stage show the night before it really made me look at it in a different way. Thinking about what goes into the production and whats needed to be done was really helpful to know. Today i went to the store house in another location which was like an Aladdin's cave of Les Mis costumes, from all past production, touring productions from different countries. They had just received the costumes back from the tour around Spain so we were making room and sorting out the rails to put them out in order. i was assigned the task of sorting out the women's shawls which were in a massive box there must have been about 100! it really made me realise that with each new production they change most aspects of the costume. I was also tasked with finding bigger blankets for the cast to wear during a eurovison night that they will be doing for fun. This task did take a while i then helped to arrange the costumes in order and put away shirts making sure the right way round so that they can see the labels well. This did take the majority of the day so i did have a longer break.
Shadowing:
For the evening i shadowed the women who looked after the Swing girls. we started by collect all 4 girls costumes that had been washed. Shirts, underwear, mic pouches, stockings. pit pads etc. These are all close to the body so for comfort and hygiene are washed daily, twice on Wednesday and Saturday. She started by laying out the clothes with the last costume first for the actresses to get into. She then piled all the others on top of this. She said what you do is find the easiest and quickest way for the actresses to change. Planning is important as costumes are hidden all other the theatre. It is important that you check you have everything as the costume department is right at the top and there will be no time to run and get it.
7.15pm Girls get dressed and we help where needed however they are pretty self sufficient. We had to help dress one of the boys from his convict costume into a farm boy out the back of the stage as the dresser for this one had to do too much so they all help each other out.
The night goes well, it was interesting to see how well run it is behind stage. Going to the wings of the stage was very exciting and nerve wracking all at once, I felt the need to whisper however there is no way you would be heard or even scene on stage. The women i was following was incredible helpful and answered so many questions that i had about the job and it really inspired me to wanting to work in theatre as everyone gets on so well.
Shadowing:
For the evening i shadowed the women who looked after the Swing girls. we started by collect all 4 girls costumes that had been washed. Shirts, underwear, mic pouches, stockings. pit pads etc. These are all close to the body so for comfort and hygiene are washed daily, twice on Wednesday and Saturday. She started by laying out the clothes with the last costume first for the actresses to get into. She then piled all the others on top of this. She said what you do is find the easiest and quickest way for the actresses to change. Planning is important as costumes are hidden all other the theatre. It is important that you check you have everything as the costume department is right at the top and there will be no time to run and get it.
7.15pm Girls get dressed and we help where needed however they are pretty self sufficient. We had to help dress one of the boys from his convict costume into a farm boy out the back of the stage as the dresser for this one had to do too much so they all help each other out.
The night goes well, it was interesting to see how well run it is behind stage. Going to the wings of the stage was very exciting and nerve wracking all at once, I felt the need to whisper however there is no way you would be heard or even scene on stage. The women i was following was incredible helpful and answered so many questions that i had about the job and it really inspired me to wanting to work in theatre as everyone gets on so well.
Saturday, 31 March 2012
Les Miserables Work Experience
Lacking Internet whilst away has resulted in me writing this after instead of as i went along.
DAY 1
Starting at 1.30 i was told to meet at the stage door behind the Queens Theatre. I was slightly nervous at the thought of what I'd be doing and whether or not i would be of help or hindrance. Meeting the Wardrobe supervisor at the door she took me on a tour of the theatre and backstage. Where all the dressing rooms are for the principles and swing. We continued backstage and looked at the staging areas to the side of the stage. Surprisingly they were very small not enough room when you have actors changing there, wigs being put on and stage management around as well. For such a big production i was very surprised at the size of the backstage area and until i see it can;t work out how everyone fits. We couldn't go onto the stage as there was a rehearsal for the new Valjean as the current one will finish at the end of the week.
After this i was shown to the costume department which like in many theatres was at the top of the theatre. Again relatively small though very organised between two rooms, one workroom with washing machines, dryers, sewing stuff, organised boxes of corset lacing, material, socks, gloves, whilst the other room was where some of the costumes were held that had been washed and each cubby hole for e4ach actors items that are washed daily such as socks, mic belts, bloomers, stockings, bras etc. I was told that anything directly on skin was washed daily so that its clean when put on. Other costumes washed weekly or when the dressers say that its a bit dirty.
My first task was to sew in some Velcro onto the men's shirts so that they could be used for quick changes. One was already started so i finished that one and repeated another including this time taking off the buttons and stitching them to the front. It was very organised and gave me an insight into the ways in which a wardrobe maintenance department works. It was very organised and they had a list of jobs that come up from the dressers or actors that need to be done and are written in a diary for the wardrobe to follow. My last thing of the afternoon was that i went to the cobblers with the supervisor to take some shoes in for repair. She also showed many fabric shops that they visit regularly that i didn't know existed.
EVE
In the evening i arrived back at 6 after my break and helped do the pre set for Valjean and Javert. A lot of the changes happen at the side of the stage so a lot of their costumes were set up there. he dresser places them in order of usages with the last costume on the chair firsts and the more recent placed on top. It seemed to be quit a stressful Plot line as the girl was covering for another dresser and said it was a hard one as there is a lot of running around.
I had the pleasure to watch the show that night in the sound box which was good. I have seen it before but even after only an afternoon you see it in a completely different light as you know some of what goes on behind the scenes. I thoroughly enjoyed the show everyone in it was very good and the cover for Valjean was incredible.
DAY 1
Starting at 1.30 i was told to meet at the stage door behind the Queens Theatre. I was slightly nervous at the thought of what I'd be doing and whether or not i would be of help or hindrance. Meeting the Wardrobe supervisor at the door she took me on a tour of the theatre and backstage. Where all the dressing rooms are for the principles and swing. We continued backstage and looked at the staging areas to the side of the stage. Surprisingly they were very small not enough room when you have actors changing there, wigs being put on and stage management around as well. For such a big production i was very surprised at the size of the backstage area and until i see it can;t work out how everyone fits. We couldn't go onto the stage as there was a rehearsal for the new Valjean as the current one will finish at the end of the week.
After this i was shown to the costume department which like in many theatres was at the top of the theatre. Again relatively small though very organised between two rooms, one workroom with washing machines, dryers, sewing stuff, organised boxes of corset lacing, material, socks, gloves, whilst the other room was where some of the costumes were held that had been washed and each cubby hole for e4ach actors items that are washed daily such as socks, mic belts, bloomers, stockings, bras etc. I was told that anything directly on skin was washed daily so that its clean when put on. Other costumes washed weekly or when the dressers say that its a bit dirty.
My first task was to sew in some Velcro onto the men's shirts so that they could be used for quick changes. One was already started so i finished that one and repeated another including this time taking off the buttons and stitching them to the front. It was very organised and gave me an insight into the ways in which a wardrobe maintenance department works. It was very organised and they had a list of jobs that come up from the dressers or actors that need to be done and are written in a diary for the wardrobe to follow. My last thing of the afternoon was that i went to the cobblers with the supervisor to take some shoes in for repair. She also showed many fabric shops that they visit regularly that i didn't know existed.
EVE
In the evening i arrived back at 6 after my break and helped do the pre set for Valjean and Javert. A lot of the changes happen at the side of the stage so a lot of their costumes were set up there. he dresser places them in order of usages with the last costume on the chair firsts and the more recent placed on top. It seemed to be quit a stressful Plot line as the girl was covering for another dresser and said it was a hard one as there is a lot of running around.
I had the pleasure to watch the show that night in the sound box which was good. I have seen it before but even after only an afternoon you see it in a completely different light as you know some of what goes on behind the scenes. I thoroughly enjoyed the show everyone in it was very good and the cover for Valjean was incredible.
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