Stage & Screen
Great performances are supported by amazing costumes…
Day 24 of #standbyforpanto is Christmas Future
with @michellebristowcostume
Another cheeky post. This has been a very difficult year for all theatre people. However, there is hope. @MercuryTheatreColchester have their 2021 panto all planned & I will be making some costumes for them again. https://www.mercurytheatre.co.uk/event/aladdin/
In the meantime, here are some photos from previous productions of Aladdin.
#costumemaker #costumes #panto #aladdin #theatre #uktheatre #freelancersmaketheatrework #weareviable
Day 23 of #standbyforpanto - Christmas Present for @michellebristowcostume
I'm going to take a bit of liberty here. These are the costumes I made last year for Cinderella at Mercury Theatre, Colchester. Deborah Tracey as the Fairy Godmother & Genevieve Nicole as the Baroness. It is now on-line, until 1st January. Tickets can be booked here: https://www.mercurytheatre.co.uk/event/cinderella-online/
@mercurytheatrecolchester
#costumemaker #costumes #panto #cinderella #fairygodmother #theatre #uktheatre #freelancersmaketheatrework #weareviable
Day 22 of #standbyforpanto - Christmas Past. with @michellebristowcostume
Killing 2 birds with 1 instagram challenge. From 2006. here is a coat for Mr Fezziwig from A Christmas Carol, Derby Theatre. Designer: Steven Richardson
#costumemaker #costumes #panto #theatre #uktheatre #achristmascarol #charlesdickens #freelancersmaketheatrework #weareviable
Day 21 of #standbyforpanto is - Dames. with @michellebristowcostume
I don't often get to make the Dames - not being a fan of the glue gun.
However, way back in 2001 (!) I got to make a Dame outfit for Harrogate Theatre. It had a lovely 'ladies who lunch' feel to it. To this day I can see her in Betty's
Designer: Kate Stanton
#costumemaker #costumes #panto #theatre #uktheatre #freelancersmaketheatrework #weareviable
Day 20 of #standbyforpanto - Tell a Funny Story. with @michellebristowcostume
Well, I have a good one for you & it includes the lovely Emma, who you met on the 18th. Are you sitting comfortably, then I'll begin ...
This is a raclette. It is meant to grill & cook small amounts of food. I use it for heating up my hot fix crystals. One of the lovely things about the raclette is that it is small enough to take with you should it be necessary.
Emma & I were at a final fitting and felt that the costume needed even more bling. Out comes the raclette, we put it down on the floor, lay the stone on top, plug it in, turn it on & wait for it to heat up. We wait & wait, something seems to be not working. In the meantime, the room is heating up & getting a little hazy. There is also a slight burning smell - we had the raclette the wrong way up & burned the carpet!!!!!
@emmawaughcreative @emmawcreativecostumes
#costumemaker #costumes #panto #theatre #uktheatre #freelancersmaketheatrework #weareviable
Day 19 of #standbyforpanto is Favourite Moment with @michellebristowcostume
Well, I can't pick just one! So, I will share with you my favourite markers along the way.
1. The 1st sight of the design & fabric. The fabrics are mostly colourful & shiny & glittery, occasionally 'look good but are a complete ******* to work with.
2. All the costumes are finished and hanging on a rail, being photographed on the stand, triple checked that everything really is finished, then packed. (The annual struggle to find the right size boxes! 🤣)
3. No turning back. The costumes are finished & packed. All the excess fabric & trim (well most of it!) has been parcelled up too. Everything is just waiting for the courier to arrive. The worry here is if anything should happen on the journey to the theatre. Nail biting times.
4. Seeing the costumes I have made, on stage, with all the other amazing costumes and set. Seeing the whole thing come together. Absolute magic!!!💖💝💗💓
#costumemaker #costumes #panto #theatre #uktheatre #freelancersmaketheatrework #weareviable
Day 18 of #standbyforpanto is We're in Good Company. with @michellebristowcostume
For this I would like to Shout Out (day 11) to someone to whom I am often the Sidekick (day 8) - the amazing Emma Waugh. I have worked on more pantos with this lady than anyone else. I think this has been the 1st year in nearly 20 not working with her & I did miss it. 😢
@emmawaughcreative @emmawcreativecostumes
#costumemaker #costumes #panto #theatre #uktheatre #freelancersmaketheatrework #weareviable
Day 18 of #standbyforpanto is We're in Good Company.
For this I would like to Shout Out (day 11) to someone to whom I am often the Sidekick (day 8) - the amazing Emma Waugh. I have worked on more pantos with this lady than anyone else. I think this has been the 1st year in nearly 20 not working with her & I did miss it. 😢
#costumemaker #costumes #panto #theatre #uktheatre #freelancersmaketheatrework #weareviable
Day 17 of #standbyforpanto is Headwear! with @michellebristowcostume
I usually leave the headwear to the amazing & talented people who know about millinery. However, I did make these. Not for a panto, as such, but for a Santa's grotto. My only bits of headwear. 😶
#costumemaker #costumes #panto #theatre #uktheatre #freelancersmaketheatrework #weareviable
Day 17 of #standbyforpanto is Headwear!
I usually leave the headwear to the amazing & talented people who know about millinery. However, I did make these. Not for a panto, as such, but for a Santa's grotto. My only bits of headwear. 😶
#costumemaker #costumes #panto #theatre #uktheatre #freelancersmaketheatrework #weareviable
Day 16 of #standbyforpanto - It's Not All Glamour! with @michellebristowcostume
An easy one today. My job is full of cuts & pin pricks, dropped needles, impressively bent needles, having to get the hammer & pliers out when working with all the beaded fabrics, & fighting your costumes under the sewing machine as they try to consume you!
#costumemaker #costumes #panto #theatre #uktheatre #freelancersmaketheatrework #weareviable #thestruggleisreal #itsnotallglamour #toolsofthetrade
Day 16 of #standbyforpanto - It's Not All Glamour!
An easy one today. Really my job is full of cuts & pin pricks, dropped needles, impressively bent needles, having to get the hammer & pliers out when working with all the beaded fabrics, & fighting your costumes under the sewing machine as they try to consume you!
#costumemaker #costumes #panto #theatre #uktheatre #freelancersmaketheatrework #weareviable #thestruggleisreal #itsnotallglamour #toolsofthetrade
Day 15 of #standbyforpanto - Secrets Revealed
with @michellebristowcostume
I'm not sure I really have many secrets. However, scrol through the photos & I will tell you how I made the pointy shoulders for the Baroness in Cinderella, @mercurytheatrecolchester
All you need is 2 shoulder pads for each shoulder. Fold 1 in half & stitch closed securely. Then take the 2nd one & stitch to the 1st at a jaunty angle, depending on the look you are after. Stitch these to your base layer, then you can work out the pattern for your top layer.
#costumemaker #costumes #panto #theatre #uktheatre #freelancersmaketheatrework #weareviable
Day 14 of #standbyforpanto - Slosh.
I'm going to be a bit cheeky here & re-name it Splash (since I don't have any Slosh photos & I'd hate to miss a day) sorry @michellebristowcostume
So, here are some mermaids for you. Made for First Family Entertainment. Designer: John Brooking. Tails painted by Emma Waugh
@emmawaughcreative
@emmawcreativecostumes #costumemaker #costumes #panto #theatre #uktheatre #mermaids #peterpan #sequins #freelancersmaketheatrework #weareviable
Day 13 of #standbyforpanto - Behind the Scenes with @michellebristowcostume
Tricky one as I no longer work backstage & mostly work on my own. Also, I have posted some behind the scenes shots with my assistants & I am saving some other photos for later in the week. So, here is me, doing my job, stitching bits of fabric together to make costumes. If you look closely enough you'll see the carnage that comes from this making malarkey. It's not always a tidy job!
#costumemaker #costumes #panto #theatre #uktheatre #freelancersmaketheatrework #weareviable
Day 12 of #standbyforpanto - Glitter
with @michellebristowcostume
Panto = glitter, sparkles, sequins, lots of shiny things, & I love it all (though some fabrics do make me swear, a lot! 🤔😄)
Scroll through to see the amazing effect of the sun on Carabose's costume
The kind of gorgeous packets of crystals I get to play with
The amazing fabric for Fairy Godmother's ball dress in Cinderella @mercurytheatrecolchester 2019 (lots of swearing with this one - sorry)
& close up photos of the crystals on the costumes
All rather gorgeous, I think you'll agree!
@uptightclothing_hq 😚🤗
#costumemaker #costumes #panto #theatre #uktheatre #glitter #sequins #crystals #sparkles #freelancersmaketheatrework #weareviable
Day 11 of #standbyforpanto is Shout Out
with @michellebristowcostume
I would like to Shout Out very loud to all the people who have helped me along my costuming path. My mother for initially teaching my to sew (& also helping with buttons & roundels during many mad panto seasons),
all my fellow makers,
the designers for their wonderful designs that I have been able to bring to life,
the supervisors for trusting me to make the costumes,
all the wonderful back stage people who make these shows happen, especially the wardrobe people for keeping all our costumes as fresh as a daisy right through the run,
and, in the last few years, my assistants:
Lucy Woodbridge, who made the tabards
Johanna Padasian @johannapadasiancostumier and Louise Patey @louiseloveslife123 who have assisted me many times over the last few years on a variety of different projects.
Jenny Roberts @jennyroberts11 for stitching on the numerous buttons on Captain Barnacles coat
and the wonderful & amazing Janice Whitehorn from Uptight Clothing @uptightclothing_hq . Not so much an assistant but a good friend who helps me out with her crystalling expertise.
I will admit that there is 1 significant person here who I haven't shouted out to - you will be getting your own post (or 2!) next week. 😘
#costumemaker #costumes #panto #theatre #uktheatre #freelancersmaketheatrework #weareviable
Day 10 of #standbyforpanto is Animals.
with @michellebristowcostume
For this I'm looking at animals as helpers, supervisors, fabric weights, moral support on long evenings ...
Here you can see
1. Slinky Malinki checking the pattern for Carabosse's cloak
2. the late Sancho Panza making himself comfortable amongst the scraps/offcuts of a Fairy Godmother
3 & 4. Mungo Jerrie particularly loved snuggling down in the sparkly fabrics from last years' @mercurytheatrecolchester
Fairy Godmother
5. Audrey, the assistant of my assistant @johannapadasiancostumier
* I would like to point out that all costumes are checked for cat hairs before leaving my studio and if I know of any allergies from the artist the costume is for, they are not allowed to enter while I'm working on that costume.
#costumemaker #costumes #panto #theatre #uktheatre #freelancersmaketheatrework #weareviable #workingwithanimals #sewingwithcats
Day 9 of #standbyforpanto - It's Behind You! with @michellebristowcostume
Well, I'm not going for the classic 'it's behind you' gag. Instead, here are some 'behind' photos. The details that you don't often get to see. So, swipe through to see:
1 & 2 Trains for the Enchantress (wedding & disguise) in Snow White, Mercury Theatre 2017 Designer: David Shields
3. Baron Hardup in Cinderella, Salisbury Playhouse 1998 Designer: Simon Higlett
4. Walkdown Cloak for Sleeping Beauty, First Family Entertainment 2007 Designer: Emma Waugh
5 & 6 The back of the Fairy Godmother's dress in Cinderella, First Family Entertainment 2014 Designer: Emma Waugh
@mercurytheatrecolchester
@emmawaughcreative @emmawcreativecostumes #costumemaker #costumes #panto #theatre #uktheatre #freelancersmaketheatrework #weareviable #cinderella #sleepingbeauty #snowwhite
Day 8 - Sidekicks in the #standbyforpanto challenge with @michellebristowcostume
So here are costumes for Muddles from Cinderella (worn here by Andy Ford); Smee from Peter Pan and the Henchmen who carry Snow White off into the woods ... All for First Family Entertainment.
#costumemaker #costumes #panto #theatre #uktheatre #freelancersmaketheatrework #weareviable #cinderella #peterpan #snowwhite
A truly memorable theatrical experience needs to be believable, so why trust anything other than my track record of creativity and reliability displayed across some of the finest stages in the country. My credits include: Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Royal Shakespeare Company, Salisbury Playhouse, Pitlochery Festival Theatre, Cunard’s QM2 and many more.
Working as a freelance costumier from my North London workshop, I am happy to create individual costumes, take on time sensitive jobs or manage your entire wardrobe. I am flexible and reliable and can travel all around the London area for meetings and fittings.
I have many years’ experience and expertise in both period and modern costume cut and construction. The diverse range of skills and experience that I bring to any project include:
- Initial design consultation (if required)
- Cutting material
- Making costumes
- Altering and adapting
- Fitting costumes, maintenance and dressing
- Hand embroidery and appliqué
- Tambour beading
- Bobbin and needle lace making